Year round flowering lupine

ABSTRACT

Lupine plants comprising a homozygous recessive allele that produces a year round flowering characteristic (or year round flowering phenotype or trait) are disclosed. One embodiment relates to the seeds of said year round flowering lupine plants, to the plants of said year round flowering lupine plants, to plant parts of said year round flowering lupine plants, and to methods for producing a lupine plant produced by crossing said year round flowering lupine plant with itself or with another lupine plant. Another embodiment also relates to methods for producing a lupine plant having a year round flowering characteristic (or year round flowering phenotype or trait) and to the year round flowering lupine plants and plant parts produced by those methods. Another embodiment relates to producing interspecific lupine plants having a year round flowering characteristic.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Continuation-In-Part Patent Applications claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/476,076, filed on Mar. 31,2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

SUBMISSION OF SEQUENCE LISTING

The Sequence Listing associated with this application is filed inelectronic format via EFS-Web and is hereby incorporated by referenceinto the specification in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

All publications cited in this application are herein incorporated byreference. Lupinus, commonly known as lupin or lupine, is a genus offlowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The genus includes over200 species, including polyphyllus, arboreus, sulphureus, andnootkatensis. Lupinus polyphyllus (also known as large-leaved lupine,or, primarily in cultivation, garden lupine) is a species of lupine(lupin) native to western North America from southern Alaska and BritishColumbia east to Alberta and western Wyoming, and south to Utah andCalifornia and commonly grows along streams and creeks, preferring moisthabitats.

Lupine can be propagated from seed, cuttings, and tissue culture. Seed,cuttings and tissue culture germination protocols for lupine arewell-known in the art.

Lupine is an important and valuable ornamental plant. Thus, a continuinggoal of ornamental plant breeders is to develop plants with novelcharacteristics, such as color, growth habit, and hardiness. Toaccomplish this goal, the breeder must select and develop plants thathave traits that result in superior lupine varieties.

The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations relatedtherewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Otherlimitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill inthe art upon a reading of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The patent or application file may contain one or more drawings executedin color and/or one or more photographs. Copies of this patent or patentapplication publication with color drawing(s) and/or photograph(s) willbe provided by the Patent Office upon request and payment of thenecessary fee.

The accompanying figures, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate some, but not the only or exclusive,example embodiments and/or features. It is intended that the embodimentsand figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative ratherthan limiting.

FIG. 1 shows photos taken in March 2017 comparing the plants of Lupine‘The Pages’ (left, aerial view), Lupine West Country ‘Masterpiece’ (ablue bi-color variety) (middle) and Lupine STAIRCASE® Blue (right). Theplants are all approximately 7 months old.

FIG. 2 shows photos taken in March 2017 comparing the plants of LupineGallery White and Yellow (left, aerial view), Lupine West Country‘Gladiator’ (an orange variety) (middle) and Lupine STAIRCASE® DuplineOrange (right). The plants are all approximately 7 months old.

FIG. 3 shows photos taken in March 2017 comparing the plants of LupineGallery Red (left, aerial view) Lupine West Country ‘Red Rum’ (a redvariety) (middle) and Lupine STAIRCASE® Red (right). The plants are allapproximately 7 months old.

FIG. 4 is a photo taken in March 2017 comparing the plants of LupineWest Country (background beginning at blue arrow) and Lupine STAIRCASE®varieties (foreground). The plants are approximately 7 months old.

FIG. 5 shows photos taken in March 2017 of the plants of LupineSTAIRCASE® Red (left), a tall variety having the year round floweringcharacteristic, and Lupine KELPIE® Dupline Red (right), a dwarf varietyhaving the year round flowering characteristic. The plants areapproximately 7 months old.

FIG. 6 is a photo taken in October 2016 showing plants of the STAIRCASE®series grown in Santa Paula, Calif. The plants are approximately 13weeks old.

FIG. 7 is a comparison of the DNA sequence in a region of a homologue ofa Flowering Locus T (FT) gene between West Country ‘Gladiator’ (SEQ IDNO: 2) and STAIRCASE® Dupline Orange (SEQ ID NO: 1). The figure shows atwo base pair insertion at position 93-94 as well as an A to G singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 98 and a T to A SNP atposition 115.

FIG. 8 is a photo taken in March 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated LKERW01-0 approximately 8 months old having red and whiteflowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 9 is a photo taken in March 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated LKEWH02-0 approximately 8 months old having white flowers andthe year round flowering trait.

FIG. 10 is a photo taken in March 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated LKEYE03-0 approximately 8 months old having yellow flowersand the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 11 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated GFB2684 approximately 8 months old having purple flowers andthe year round flowering trait.

FIG. 12 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated GFB2176 approximately 8 months old having red flowers and theyear round flowering trait.

FIG. 13 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated GFB2685 approximately 8 months old having red and rosecolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 14 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated GFB2686 approximately 8 months old having rose and whitecolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 15 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a dwarf lupine plantdesignated GFB2687 approximately 8 months old having scarlet and yellowcolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 16 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2188 approximately 8 months old having dark blue andyellow colored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 17 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2693 approximately 8 months old having blue and whitecolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 18 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2688 approximately 8 months old having lavender and whitecolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 19 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2184 approximately 8 months old having pink flowers andthe year round flowering trait.

FIG. 20 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2689 approximately 8 months old having purple and yellowcolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 21 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2690 approximately 8 months old having red and pinkcolored flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 22 is a photo taken in April 2019 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated GFB2692 approximately 8 months old having white flowers andthe year round flowering trait.

FIG. 23 is a photo taken in February 2018 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated LSTDBW08-0 approximately 6 months old having dark blue andwhite flowers and the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 24 is a photo taken in February 2018 showing a tall lupine plantdesignated LSTYE05-1 approximately 6 months old having yellow flowersand the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 25 is a photo taken showing lupine STAIRCASE Scarlet-Yellow havingscarlet and yellow flowers and the year round flowering trait.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described inconjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to beexemplary, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more ofthe above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, whileother embodiments are directed to other improvements.

According to one embodiment, there is provided a lupine seed whosegenome contains at least one copy of a recessive allele for year roundflowering, wherein said recessive allele is identified by the geneticmarker sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequencecontains a two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shownin SEQ ID NO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an Ato G nucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, or a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at positionnumber 115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

Another embodiment provides a method for introgressing the year roundflowering trait into a lupine plant comprising crossing two lupineparent plants and harvesting the resultant lupine seed, wherein at leastone lupine parent plant comprises at least one recessive allele for yearround flowering, wherein said recessive allele is identified by thegenetic marker sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said markersequence contains a two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)comprising an A to G nucleotide substitution at position number 98 asshown in SEQ ID NO:1, or a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotidesubstitution at position number 115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.

Another embodiment provides a Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid lupine plantcomprising a year round flowering characteristic, wherein said yearround flowering characteristic comprises a lupine plant which willinitiate flowering without vernalization and in days of shortphotoperiods, and wherein said lupine plant is produced from arepresentative sample of seed, wherein seed from said representativesample has been deposited with the National Collections of Industrial,Food and Marine Bacteria.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by study of thefollowing descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTINGS

SEQ ID NO: 1 discloses a marker sequence for the year round floweringcharacteristic, which comprises a two base pair insertion at positionnumber 93 to 94, a SNP which comprises an A to G nucleotide substitutionat position number 98, and a SNP which comprises a T to A nucleotidesubstitution at position number 115.

SEQ ID NO: 2 discloses the wild-type comparison sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 3 discloses a forward PCR primer sequence which may be usedto detect the two base pair insertion shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 4 discloses a reverse PCR primer sequence which may be usedto detect the two base pair insertion shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided:

Long photoperiod. As used herein, refers to a day length from sunrise tosunset of greater than 12 hours. Also known as “long-day”.

Short photoperiod. As used herein, refers to a day length from sunriseto sunset of less than or equal to 12 hours. Also known as “short-day”.

Vernalization. Vernalization refers to the artificial exposure of plants(or seeds) to low temperatures in order to stimulate flowering.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are numerous steps in the development of any novel, desirableplant germplasm. Plant breeding begins with the analysis and definitionof problems and weaknesses of the current germplasm, the establishmentof program goals, and the definition of specific breeding objectives.The next step is selection of germplasm that possesses the traits tomeet the program goals. The goal is to combine improved combination ofdesirable traits from the parental germplasm. These important traits mayinclude flower color, certain plant characteristics, higher vigor,resistance to diseases and insects, better stems and roots, tolerance todrought and heat, and better commercial plant and flower quality.

The present application discloses lupine plants comprising a homozygousrecessive allele that produces a year round flowering characteristic,wherein said lupine plants will flower in days of short and longphotoperiods and do not require cold temperatures or vernalization toflower, wherein a sample of representative seed of the lupine plantcomprising said homozygous recessive allele that produces a year roundflowering characteristic is deposited under NCIMB Nos. 42735 and 43446.Plants of said lupine are further valued as breeding lines enabling thedevelopment of superior ornamental lupine plants exhibiting year roundflowering and a range of desirable flower colors and superior growthperformance.

The novel lupine disclosed in the present application are unique in thatthey exhibit year round flowering. Specifically, a plant as describedherein will flower absent of any cold treatment or vernalization, and/orregardless of day length, while retaining the growth rate and form ofcommercial lupine varieties. The novel year round flowering lupinedisclosed in the present application are stable for a variety of colorsand characteristics, and are tolerant to USDA zones 3 to 9.

The present application also discloses a lupine plant comprising ahomozygous recessive allele that produces a year round floweringcharacteristic, wherein said plant will flower absent of any coldtreatment or vernalization, and regardless of day length, wherein asample of representative seed of the lupine plant comprising saidhomozygous recessive allele is deposited under NCIMB Nos. 42735 and43446.

The year round flowering lupine disclosed in the present applicationhave shown uniformity and stability, as described in the followingsection. The year round flowering lupine disclosed in the presentapplication have been asexually and sexually reproduced a sufficientnumber of generations with careful attention to uniformity of plant typeand has been increased with continued observation for uniformity.

Origin of Russell Hybrid Lupine

Commercial Russell hybrid lupine, Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid, werethought to be brought from North America to Britain in the 1820's.Russell hybrids, Lupinus russellii hort, were bred because Lupinuspolyphyllus originally were of basic colors, white pink to purple-blueflowers, and had large gaps in the flowering raceme. Please see UnitedStates Department of Agriculture, “Big Leaf Lupine”, published October2012. Over the decades, Russell hybrid plants were selected havingdenser racemes and more colors than the original Lupinus polyphyllus.

Seedlings of Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid (Russel's strains) havehistorically had both the requirements of vernalization and longphotoperiods to develop flowers and be presentable for plant sales tothe public. For this reason, Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid (Russel'sstrains) are planted in early summer (or at least by the end of summer)to allow plants to become large and established, so they can surviveexposure to low winter temperatures to receive the needed effects ofvernalization to flower the next year. Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid(Russel's strains) are over-wintered in containers protected only fromthe most severe temperatures and then allowed to naturally flower inlate spring or early summer with lengthening photoperiods. UnlessLupinus polyphyllus hybrid (Russel's strains) are vernalized, they willnot predictably flower uniformly across a crop even when they areexposed to the long days of the late spring and summer.

Discovery of Markers for the Year Round Flowering Characteristic

As shown in FIG. 7, the present disclosure provides a genetic marker(SEQ ID NO: 1) for the identification of lupine varieties having orcarrying the recessive year round flowering trait. To initiate genetictesting, five wild-type commercial lupine varieties consisting of ‘MyCastle’, West Country ‘Desert Sun’, West Country ‘Gladiator’ (shown inFIG. 2), West Country ‘Manhattan’, and West Country ‘Persian Slipper’were analyzed, along with five year round flowering varieties consistingof STAIRCASE Blue (shown in FIG. 1 and described in Table 4), STAIRCASEDupline Orange (Shown in FIG. 2), STAIRCASE Red (shown in FIG. 3 anddescribed in Table 6), STAIRCASE Rose-White (described in Table 5), andSTAIRCASE yellow (described in Table 6). DNA was extracted from twoplants of each variety (20 total) using techniques known in the art anda standard PCR amplification was performed using the primer sequencesshown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 (see also Nelson, M. N. et al.,2017). The PCR targeted exonic portions of a Flowering Locus T (FT)homologue in a distant Lupine relative, Lupinus angustifolius.

The resulting PCR product for all wild-type commercial comparisonvarieties was 222 base pairs (not shown). For all of the year roundflowering varieties tested, the resulting PCR product was 224 base pairs(not shown). To determine where the two base pair insertion was located,direct sequencing of the PCR products was performed. The directsequencing recovered 121 base pairs of the 224 base pair products fromthe year round flowering varieties (SEQ ID NO: 1) as well as 119 basepairs of the 222 base pair products of the wild-type commercial controls(SEQ ID NO: 2). The ten sequences of the wild-type commercial varietieswere identical to one another, and the ten sequences of the year roundflowering varieties were identical to one another.

Two sequences were chosen and an alignment was performed between thesequence of West Country “gladiator” (an orange variety, labeled WG-01in FIG. 7) and the sequence of year round flowering STAIRCASE DuplineOrange (labeled SO-01 in FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 7, the two base pairinsertion occurs at position 93-94 of the year round floweringvarieties. Two additional SNPs were also identified, comprising an A toG nucleotide substitution at position number 98, and a T to A nucleotidesubstitution at position number 115.

EXAMPLES

1. Development and Discovery of Lupine Plants Having a Year RoundFlowering Characteristic

The development of the year round flowering lupine disclosed in thepresent application resulted from a breeding program to develop RussellLupine plants that would bloom with a shortened photoperiod and withoutvernalization. Working within breeding populations that flowered typicalto Russel Lupines, an individual plant was identified in early 2009which flowered very early compared to other plants in the population.The plant was named ‘Very Early Flower’.

In April 2009, the individual plant was crossed with other siblingclones that had different flower colors. Five to 10 seeds were harvestedfrom each crossing in July 2009. Those seeds were subsequently sown inSeptember 2009 for testing in the following year. Additionally, it wasobserved that ‘Very Early Flower’ kept flowering for a longer periodinto the summer. This second attribute showed that the plant was notonly early flowering, but also would generate new reproductive growththat did not require cold treatment or vernalization to flower.

Determination of Genetic Mechanism and Inheritance of Year RoundFlowering Lupine Plant Characteristic

In March 2010, the flowering of the F₁ generation confirmed that thecharacter was of recessive inheritance as none of the F₁ plants showedthe long flowering trait of the parental line identified in early 2009.Plants from this F₁ population were selected for self-pollination andapproximately 200 seeds were harvested in July 2010.

In March 2011, approximately 50 (or 25%) of the F₂ plants flowered withgreenhouse night temperatures maintained at greater than 10° C. Thisconfirmed that the year round flowering characteristic had beeninherited and that it was a recessive trait. Additionally, thephenotypes were stable and further, since the trait was found in plantswith different flower colors, it is not influenced by flower color.

During the summer of 2012, the breeder took 6 selections and grew themin 18 cm pots on the balcony of his residence in Tokyo, where summernight temperatures reached 23° C. (see Table 1 below). He observed thatthe plants continued to flower into July 2012, which is much longer thantypical lupine strains which finish flowering by late May in Japan dueto rapidly increasing nightly temperatures.

TABLE 1 Temperatures in Tokyo, Japan, July 2012 Temperature Maximum MeanMinimum Daily high 95° F. (31.5° C.) 83° F. (25.5° C.) 71° F. (19.5° C.)Daily mean 86° F. (27° C.) 78° F. (23° C.) 68° F. (18° C.) Daily low 78°F. (23° C.) 73° F. (20.5° C.) 64° F. (16° C.)

The breeder also observed that the plants grown on his balcony producedas many as 12 flower racemes per plant, far exceeding the typical 6raceme count usually observed for other lupine plants (for example,‘Minaretto’) over a growing season.

In February 2013 the breeders achieved very early lines in many flowercolors and plant heights (tall and dwarf) from the F₃ generation andworked on further generations by sibling mating to maintain hybrid plantvigor and improve the flower color purity.

The lines have continued through the F₆ generation in both standard anddwarf heights and many colors. The year round flowering trait is stableand not significantly influenced by photoperiod. F₆ seedlings started toflower in January, which allowed for further selections in March 2016.In these selected lines there was no requirement for low temperaturesnor long days to initiate flower buds. Year round flowering Lupinuspolyphyllus hybrid (Russel's strains) can be grown similarly to annuals,a significant production benefit.

Through breeding and laboratory techniques well-known in the art, yearround flowering lupine plants can be produced as a homozygoustetrapoloid or diploid. Additionally, the year round flowering trait canbe transferred stably and predictably across different lupine species,different colors, and different genetic backgrounds.

2. Characteristics of Year Round Flowering Lupine Plants

FIGS. 1 to 5 show the botanical characteristics of year round floweringlupine plants Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid (Russel strains) STAIRCASE andKELPIE series as compared to Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid (Russel strains)‘The Pages’, Russell West Country series, and Gallery series, ofdifferent colors. The year round flowering plants and West Countryplants were grown from tissue culture in Ft. Collins, Colo. The plantswere deflasked the second week of August 2016 and placed into 72 unitliner trays. Gallery series plants and ‘The Pages’ were started fromseed in 98 unit liner trays the last week of July 2016 at the samefacility in Ft. Collins, Colo. Liners were transplanted 7 to 10 weekslater into 1 gallon containers for seed propagated plants and 2 galloncontainers for tissue cultured plants and grown in a greenhouse. Noadditional cold treatment for vernalization was given and no plantgrowth regulators were used. No artificial light was used and irrigationwas done by hand-watering. Photographs were taken in March 2017 when theplants were approximately 7 months old.

Shown in FIG. 1 is a comparison between Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid(Russel strains) ‘The Pages’ (left, aerial view), lupine West Country‘Masterpiece’ (middle), and lupine STAIRCASE Blue (right). STAIRCASEBlue has the year round flowering trait and exhibits early flowerinitiation before flowers develop on the other plants.

Shown in FIG. 2 is a comparison between lupine Gallery White and GalleryYellow (left, aerial view), lupine West Country ‘Gladiator’ (middle),and lupine STAIRCASE Dupline Orange (right). STAIRCASE Dupline Orangehas the year round flowering trait and exhibits early flower initiationbefore flowers develop on the other plants.

Shown in FIG. 3 is a comparison between lupine Gallery Red (left, aerialview), lupine West Country ‘Red Rum’ (middle), and lupine STAIRCASE Red(right). STAIRCASE Red has the year round flowering trait and exhibitsearly flower initiation before flowers develop on the other plants.

FIG. 4 shows an aerial view of lupine West Country strains (backgroundbeginning at blue arrow), and lupine STAIRCASE strains (foreground). TheSTAIRCASE series plants have the year round flowering trait and exhibitheavy flower initiation, while the West Country strains do not show anyflower development.

FIG. 5 shows lupine STAIRCASE Red (left), a tall variety, and lupineKELPIE Dupline Red (right), also known as ‘LMIRW01-0’, a dwarf variety.Both plants exhibit the year round flowering trait.

FIG. 6 shows the botanical characteristics of year round floweringlupine plants Lupinus sp. (Russel strains) STAIRCASE series grown fromtissue culture in Santa Paula, Calif. The plants were deflasked the weekof Jul. 4, 2016 and placed into plug trays in a greenhouse. Seedlings ofwere transplanted into 15 cm, 6 inch pots the third week of August, 2016and grown in a greenhouse. No plant growth regulators were used. Noartificial light was used and irrigation was done by hand-watering. Noadditional cold treatment for vernalization was given and 2016 was thehottest summer in California history. Photographs were taken the secondweek of November, 2016 when the plants were approximately 17 weeks old.The plants developed flowers without cold temperatures or vernalization.

3. Crosses of Year Round Flowering Lupine with OtherLupine-Interspecific Crosses of Lupine

As shown by the breeding history and data, the year round floweringlupine characteristic is a heritable trait and can be bred into otherlupine plants. When in the homozygous form, lupine plants will exhibitthe year round flowering phenotype. Interspecific crosses in lupine arewell-known in the art. Please see Bragdo, Marie, “Interspecific Crossesin Lupinus Cytology and Inheritance in Flower Color”, Hereditas, 43 (2):338-356, July 1957.

For example, a year round flowering Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid planthomozygous recessive for the allele, wherein a representative sample ofseed containing said allele was deposited under NCIMB No. 42735, may bebred with other Lupinus species such as polyphyllus, arboreus,sulphureus, and nootkatensis to produce interspecific hybrid seed andprogeny Lupinus hybrid plants.

4. Botanical Characteristics of Year Round Flowering Lupine

In the following description, color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe plants grown outdoors in Santa Paula, Calif.Plants were approximately 1 year old, grown in either a 2 gallon or 14cm nursery container. Measurements and numerical values representaverages of typical plant types.

Table 2 below lists some of the additional botanical characteristics of‘LMIBW03-0’, also known as KELPIE ‘Blue White’, ‘LMIRE05-0’, also knownas KELPIE ‘Red’, and ‘LMIYE06-0’, also known as KELPIE ‘Yellow’. Thesedwarf lines all exhibit the year round flowering characteristic, meaningthey will flower absent of any cold treatment or vernalization, and/orregardless of day length, and are tolerant to USDA zones 3 to 9. Theyare compact, herbaceous vigorous perennials with a mounding foliar basetopped with upright raceme inflorescences. The plant height to the topof the flowering plane for these dwarf lines does not exceed 35.0 cm.The leaves emerge directly from the base of the plant, or infrequentlyoccur directly on the flowering stem. The leaves are orbicular shapedand palmately compound, occurring mainly as basal whorls, orinfrequently alternate along the flowering stem. The inflorescenceconsists of single, large, papilonaceous flowers evenly andsymmetrically arranged on racemes, with individual flowers lastingapproximately 15 days.

TABLE 2 Botanical characteristics of dwarf varieties ‘LMIBW03-0’,‘LMIRE05-0’, and ‘LMIYE06-0’ ‘LMIBW03-0’ ‘LMIRE05-0’ ‘LMIYE06-0’ SpreadApproximately 15 cm Approximately 25 cm Approximately 15 cm to 20 cm to20 cm Leaf length Range 4.5 cm to 6.0 cm 7.0 cm 6 cm to 9.0 cm Leafdiameter Range 4.5 cm to 6.0 cm 7.0 cm 9.0 cm Leaf quantityApproximately 15 to 20 Approximately 10 to Approximately 15 basalleaves, per plant. 15 basal leaves, per basal leaves, per Average range2 to 4 plant. Average range plant. Average range floral stem leaves, per2 to 4 floral stem 2 to 4 floral stem stem leaves, per stem leaves, perstem Leaflets quantity Average 11 Average 11 Average 11 Leaflets shapeOblanceolate Oblanceolate Oblanceolate Leaflets Radial Radial Radialarrangement Leaflets length Longest leaflet per leaf Longest leaflet perLongest leaflet per average 3.0 cm to 5.5 cm; leaf average 3.5 cm; leafaverage 3.5 cm Shortest leaflet per Shortest leaflet per to 4.5 cm;Shortest leaf average 2.8 cm leaf average 2.5 cm leaflet per leafaverage 2.5 cm to 3.3 cm Leaflets width Central leaflet average Centralleaflet Central leaflet 1.6 cm average 1.6 cm average 1.5 cm Leafletsapex Acute to nearly Acute to nearly Acute to nearly acuminate acuminateacuminate Leaflets base Attenuate Attenuate Attenuate Leaflets marginEntire Entire Entire Leaflets texture, Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous bothsurfaces Leaflets Matte Matte Matte appearance, both surfaces Leafletsaspect Flat to very slightly Flat to very slightly Flat to very slightlyreflexed downward reflexed downward reflexed downward Leaflets color,Near RHS Green 141B Near RHS Green Near RHS Green upper surface 137A141B Leaflets color, Near RHS Green 141C Near RHS Green Near RHS Greenlower surface 137D 137D Venation type Pinnate Pinnate Pinnate Venationcolor, Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- upper surfaceGreen 145B Green 145A Green 145A Venation color, Near RHS Yellow- NearRHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- lower surface Green 144D Green 145A Green145C Petiole length Range 5.0 cm to 9.0 cm Range 4.0 cm to 11.0 cm Range4.0 cm to 7.0 cm Petiole diameter 0.5 cm 0.6 cm 0.4 cm Petiole colorNear RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 144C Green 144DGreen 145C Petiole texture Minutely hirsute Minutely hirsute Minutelyhirsute Quantity of 40 to 70 flowers and 40 to 80 flowers and 40 to 60flowers and flowers buds per inflorescence. buds per buds per Typically1 to 3 inflorescence. inflorescence. inflorescences per plant Typically1 to 3 Typically 1 to 3 at one time inflorescences per inflorescencesper plant at one time plant at one time Inflorescence Approximately 5.0cm Approximately 5.0 cm Approximately 5.0 cm diameter InflorescenceRange 8 cm to 15 cm Range 10 cm to 20 cm Range 10 cm to 18 cm heightFlower length Approximately 2.2 cm Approximately 1.1 cm Approximately1.4 cm (excluding pedicel) Flower height Average 1.8 cm Average 1.0 cmAverage 1.0 cm (excluding pedicel) Peduncle length Approximately 3.0 cmApproximately 3.0 cm Approximately 3.0 cm from uppermost leaf to fromuppermost from uppermost lowermost flower leaf to lowermost leaf tolowermost flower flower Peduncle Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.9cm Approximately 0.8 cm diameter Peduncle color Near RHS Yellow- NearRHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145A Green 145A, flushed Green 145BRHS Greyed-Purple 187D Peduncle Flexible, very strong Flexible, verystrong Flexible, very strong strength Peduncle texture Short pubescenceShort pubescence Slight pubescence Pedicel length Approximately 1.1 cmApproximately 1.0 cm Approximately 0.8 cm Pedicel diameter Approximately0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cm Pedicel color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Greyed- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145C flushed Purple 186BGreen 145B Greyed-Red 181C, or colored entirely 181D Pedicel strengthStrong Strong Strong Pedicel texture Softly pubescent Softly pubescentSlightly pubescent Petal quantity 1 upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2 1upper banner, 2 and arrangement lateral “wings” and a lateral “wings”and a lateral “wings” and a lower keel lower keel lower keel Bannerlength Approximately 1.2 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.9 cmBanner width Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.4 cm Approximately 0.6cm Banner shape Orbicular, when Orbicular, when Orbicular, when unfurledunfurled unfurled Banner margin Entire Entire Entire Banner apexMucronate Mucronate Mucronate Banner base Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse Bannertexture Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous allsurfaces surfaces surfaces Banner aspect Folded, margins furled Folded,margins Folded, margins furled furled Banner color Near RHS White 155ABase near RHS Near RHS Yellow when opening, large basal blotch nearWhite N155C 7C outer surface RHS Purple 77A remaining surface near RHSRed- Purple 61C Banner color Near RHS White 155A Base near RHS Near RHSYellow when opening, large basal blotch near White N155C 7C innersurface RHS Purple 77B remaining surface near RHS Greyed- Purple 186CBanner color Near RHS White 155A Base near RHS Near RHS Yellow whenopened, large basal blotch near White 155D, 7C outer surface RHS Violet86A remaining surface near RHS Red 53A Banner color Near RHS White 155ABase near RHS Near RHS Yellow when opened, large basal blotch near WhiteN155D, 7C inner surface RHS Violet 86C remaining surface near RHS Red-Purple 64A Banner color Near RHS White 155A Base near RHS Near RHSYellow when fading, large basal blotch near White N155D, 7C outersurface RHS Violet 86C remaining surface near RHS Red- Purple 70A and70C Banner color Near RHS White 155A Base near RHS Near RHS Yellow whenfading, large basal blotch near White N155D, 7C inner surface Violet 86Dremaining surface Red-Purple 70A and 70C Wing length Approximately 1.2cm Approximately 1.1 cm Approximately 0.9 cm Wing width Approximately0.9 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.6 cm Wing shape Ovate OvateKidney shaped Wing margin Entire Entire Entire Wing apex Rounded,frequently Rounded, frequently Rounded, frequently fused to oppositewing fused to opposite fused to opposite at apex wing at apex wing atapex Wing base Truncate Truncate Truncate Wing texture Smooth, glabrousall Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfacesWing aspect Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Wing colorwhen Near RHS Purple- Near RHS Red 53C Near RHS Yellow opening, outerViolet N81A, lower 4D surface section RHS N81B, base flushed with RHSWhite 155A Wing color when Near RHS Violet 84A, Near RHS Red 53C NearRHS Yellow opening, inner lower section RHS 4D surface N82D, base veryslightly flushed with RHS White 155A Wing color when Near RHS Purple-Near RHS Red 53D Near RHS Yellow opened, outer Violet N82A, very 4Csurface small section of base near RHS Violet 84D Wing color when NearRHS Violet 86A, Near RHS Red 53D Near RHS Yellow opened, inner base nearRHS Violet 4C surface 84D Wing color when Near RHS Violet-Blue Near RHSRed 52A Near RHS Yellow fading, outer 86A, flushed RHS 4C surface Violet83C, small section of base RHS Violet 84C Wing color when Near RHSViolet 86B, Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Yellow fading, inner streaks ofRHS 84C 4C surface and 84D emerging from base Keel length Approximately1.1 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Keel widthApproximately 0.4 cm Approximately 0.3 cm Approximately 0.3 cm Keelshape Scythe Scythe Scythe Keel margin Entire Entire Entire Keel apexAwn-like Awn-like Awn-like Keel base Truncate Truncate Truncate Keeltexture Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous allsurfaces surfaces surfaces Keel aspect Folded Folded Folded Keel colorwhen Near RHS White 155A, Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Yellow- opening,outer apex RHS Violet 86A Green 150D surface Keel color when Near RHSWhite 155A, Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Yellow- opening, inner apex RHSViolet 86A Green 150D surface Keel color when Near RHS Violet 84D, NearRHS Red 52B Near RHS Yellow opened, outer apex RHS Violet 86A 4D surfaceKeel color when Near RHS Violet 84D, Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Yellowopened, inner apex Violet 86A 4D surface Keel color when Near RHS Violet84D, Near RHS Red 52C Near RHS Yellow fading, outer apex RHS Violet 86A4D surface Keel color when Near RHS Violet 84D, Near RHS Red 52C NearRHS Yellow fading, inner apex RHS Violet 86A 4D surface Bud shapeFlattened ovate Flattened ovate Flattened, kidney shaped Bud lengthApproximately 1.1 cm Approximately 1.5 cm Approximately 0.8 cm Buddiameter Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Approximately 0.6 cmBud color Lower side near RHS Lower side near RHS Near RHS Green-Purple-Violet N82A, Red 52A blushed White 157A, flushed upperside nearRHS RHS 53A, upper side and striped RHS Green-White 157A near RHS Red-Green-Yellow 1D Purple N57C Sepal quantity 2, one fully developed, 2,one fully 2, one fully one minute (less than 1 mm developed, onedeveloped, one in length), minute (less than 1 mm minute (less than 1 mmsometimes missing in length), in length), sometimes missing sometimesmissing Sepal length Approximately 3 mm Approximately 3 mm Approximately3 mm Sepal width Approximately 2 mm Approximately 2 mm Approximately 2mm Sepal shape Deltate Deltate Deltate Sepal aspect Cupped Cupped CuppedSepal apex Mucronate Mucronate Mucronate Sepal margin Entire EntireEntire Sepal color, RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Greeninner surface 145C 145C 145D Sepal color, RHS Yellow-Green RHSYellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green outer surface 145D 145D 145D Sepal textureGlabrous Glabrous Glabrous Fragrance Moderate Strong, sweet scentModerate Stamen quantity Approximately 5 to 10 Approximately 5 toApproximately 5 to 10 10 Filament length Approximately 0.4 cmApproximately 0.4 cm Approximately 0.4 cm Filament color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145D Green 145D Green145D Anther length 0.2 cm 0.1 cm 0.1 cm Anther shape Elongated ovoidElongated ovoid Elongated ovoid Anther color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow Green 145B Orange 15B 9A Pollen Scant, colorednear Scant or absent, Scant or absent, Yellow RHS 13A colored nearYellow colored near Yellow RHS 13C RHS 9C Pistil quantity 1 1 1 Pistillength Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.7 cmStigma shape Globular Globular Globular Stigma color Near RHS Yellow-Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145C Orange 15B Green 145C OvaryNear RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green Near RHS Yellow- Green 145B, 143D,approximately Green 145C, approximately 2 mm in 2 mm in diameterapproximately 2 mm diameter in diameter

Table 3 below lists some of the additional botanical characteristics of‘LMIBY04-0’, also known as KELPIE ‘Blue Yellow’, and ‘LMIRW01-0’, alsoknown as KELPIE ‘Rose White’ and ‘Dupline Red’. These dwarf lines allexhibit the year round flowering characteristic, meaning they willflower absent of any cold treatment or vernalization, and/or regardlessof day length, and are tolerant to USDA zones 3 to 9. They are compact,herbaceous vigorous perennials with a mounding foliar base topped withupright raceme inflorescences. The plant height to the top of theflowering plane for these dwarf lines does not exceed 35.0 cm. Theleaves emerge directly from the base of the plant, or infrequently occurdirectly on the flowering stem. The leaves are orbicular shaped andpalmately compound, occurring mainly as basal whorls, or infrequentlyalternate along the flowering stem. The inflorescence consists ofsingle, large, papilonaceous flowers evenly and symmetrically arrangedon racemes, with individual flowers lasting approximately 15 days.

TABLE 3 Botanical characteristics of dwarf varieties ‘LMIBY04-0’ and‘LMIRW01-0’ ‘LMIBY04-0’ ‘LMIRW01-0’ Spread Approximately 20 cmApproximately 15 to 22 cm Leaf length Range 5.0 cm to 8.0 cm 9.0 cm Leafdiameter Range 5.0 cm to 7.5 cm 8.5 cm Leaf quantity Approximately 25basal leaves, Approximately 20 to 30 basal per plant. Average range 2 to4 leaves, per plant. Average range floral stem leaves, per stem 4 to 8floral stem leaves Leaflets quantity Average 11 Range 9 to 12 Leafletsshape Oblanceolate Oblanceolate Leaflets arrangement Radial RadialLeaflets length Longest leaflet per leaf average Longest leaflet perleaf average 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm; Shortest 4.8 cm; Shortest leaflet perleaf leaflet per leaf average 2.4 cm average 2.7 cm to 3.0 cm Leafletswidth Central leaflet average 1.9 cm Central leaflet average 1.6 cmLeaflets apex Acute to nearly acuminate Acute to nearly acuminateLeaflets base Attenuate Attenuate Leaflets margin Entire Entire Leafletstexture, both Glabrous Glabrous surfaces Leaflets appearance, MatteMatte both surfaces Leaflets aspect Flat to very slightly reflexed Flatto very slightly reflexed upward downward Leaflets color, upper Near RHSGreen 143A Near RHS Green 139B surface Leaflets color, lower Near RHSGreen 143B Near RHS Green 139C surface Venation type Pinnate PinnateVenation color, Near RHS Yellow-Green 144C Near RHS Yellow-Green 145Aupper surface Venation color, Near RHS Green 141D Near RHS Yellow-Green145C lower surface Petiole length Range 7.0 cm to 11.0 cm Range 5.0 cmto 9.0 cm Petiole diameter 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm 0.3 cm Petiole color NearRHS Yellow-Green 144C; Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D Often heavily flushedRHS Greyed-Purple 186A, or entirely colored RHS 186B. Petiole textureVery minutely hirsute Minutely hirsute Quantity of flowers 40 to 70flowers and buds per 40 to 80 flowers and buds per inflorescence.Typically 1 to 3 inflorescence. Typically 3 to 6 inflorescences perplant at one inflorescences per plant at one time time InflorescenceApproximately 4.5 cm Approximately 4.5 cm diameter Inflorescence heightRange 10 cm to 20 cm Range 10 cm to 18 cm Flower length Approximately1.5 cm Approximately 1.1 cm (excluding pedicel) Flower height Average0.9 cm Average 1.0 cm (excluding pedicel) Peduncle length Approximately3.0 cm from Approximately 4.0 cm from uppermost leaf to lowermostuppermost leaf to lowermost flower flower Peduncle diameterApproximately 1.0 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Peduncle color Near RHSYellow-Green 144C Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A Peduncle strength Flexible,very strong Flexible, moderately strong Peduncle texture Slightpubescence Short pubescence Pedicel length Approximately 0.6 cmApproximately 1.0 cm Pedicel diameter Approximately 0.2 cm Approximately0.1 cm Pedicel color Near RHS Greyed-Purple 186B Near RHS Green 138D,very lightly flushed RHS Purple N77C at base Pedicel strength StrongStrong Pedicel texture Slightly pubescent Softly pubescent Petalquantity and 1 upper banner, 2 lateral 1 upper banner, 2 lateral “wings”arrangement “wings” and a lower keel and a lower keel Banner lengthApproximately 1.0 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Banner width Approximately 0.8cm Approximately 0.7 cm Banner shape Orbicular, when unfurled Orbicular,when unfurled Banner margin Entire Entire Banner apex MucronateMucronate Banner base Obtuse Obtuse Banner texture Smooth, glabrous allsurfaces Smooth, glabrous all surfaces Banner aspect Folded, marginsfurled Folded, margins furled Banner color when Near RHS Green-White157D, Upper section near RHS Green- opening, outer flushed RHS Yellow2D, large White 157D, mid-section RHS surface basal blotch near RHSViolet- Red-Purple 65D, basal blotch Purple N82A near RHS Red-Purple 71CBanner color when Near RHS Green-White 157D Upper section near RHSGreen- opening, inner large basal blotch near RHS White 157D,mid-section RHS surface Violet-Purple N82A Red-Purple 65D, basal blotchnear RHS Red-Purple 71C Banner color when Apical section near RHS YellowNear RHS White N155D, base opened, outer surface 5C, mid-section nearRHS blotched RHS Red-Purple N66B White 155D large basal blotch near RHSViolet-Purple N82A Banner color when Apical section near RHS Yellow NearRHS White N155D, base opened, inner surface 5D, mid-section near RHSblotched Red-Purple N66C White 155D large basal blotch near RHSViolet-Purple N82A Banner color when Apex near RHS Yellow 5D. Near RHSWhite N155D, base fading, outer surface Apical section near RHS Yellowblotched RHS Red-Purple N66C 2D, mid-section near RHS White 155D largebasal blotch near RHS Violet N87B Banner color when Apex near RHS Yellow5D. Near RHS White N155D, base fading, inner surface Apical section nearRHS Yellow blotched RHS Red-Purple N66D 2D, mid-section near RHS White155D large basal blotch near RHS Violet N87C Wing length Approximately0.9 cm Approximately 0.9 cm Wing width Approximately 0.5 cmApproximately 0.7 cm Wing shape Ovate Ovate Wing margin Entire EntireWing apex Rounded, frequently fused to Rounded, frequently fused toopposite wing at apex opposite wing at apex Wing base Truncate TruncateWing texture Smooth, glabrous all surfaces Smooth, glabrous all surfacesWing aspect Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Wing color when Near RHSPurple-Violet N82A, Near RHS Red-Purple N57C opening, outer lowersection slightly flushed surface RHS Purple N79B, base slightly flushedwith RHS White 155A Wing color when Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A, NearRHS Red-Purple 65A opening, inner lower section slightly flushed surfaceRHS Purple N79B, base slightly flushed with RHS White 155A Wing colorwhen Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A, Near RHS Red-Purple 67B opened, outersurface small section of base near RHS Purple N79C. A few small streaksnear RHS Yellow 2D Wing color when Near RHS Purple-Violet N82A, Near RHSRed-Purple 67C opened, inner surface small section of base near RHSPurple N79C. A few small streaks near RHS Yellow 2D Wing color when NearRHS Purple-Violet N82B, Near RHS Red-Purple 73A, fading, outer surfacesmall section of base near RHS streaked RHS N74B Purple N79C. A fewsmall streaks near RHS White 155A Wing color when Near RHS Purple-VioletN82B, Near RHS Red-Purple N74B fading, inner surface small section ofbase near RHS Purple N79C. A few small streaks near RHS White 155A Keellength Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Keel widthApproximately 0.4 cm Approximately 0.4 cm Keel shape Scythe Scythe Keelmargin Entire Entire Keel apex Awn-like Awn-like Keel base TruncateTruncate Keel texture Smooth, glabrous all surfaces Smooth, glabrous allsurfaces Keel aspect Folded Folded Keel color when Near RHS Yellow 2D,apex Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D, opening, outer RHS Violet N81B apex RHSRed-Purple 64B surface Keel color when Near RHS Yellow 2D, apex Near RHSYellow-Green 150D, opening, inner RHS Violet N81B apex RHS Red-Purple64B surface Keel color when Near RHS Yellow 4D, apex Near RHS White155D, apex opened, outer surface RHS Violet N82A RHS Red-Purple 64C,very tip of apex RHS Red-Purple 64B Keel color when Near RHS Yellow 4D,apex Near RHS Red-Purple 65D, apex opened, inner surface RHS Violet N82ARHS Red-Purple 64D, very tip of apex RHS Red-Purple 64B Keel color whenNear RHS Yellow 2D, apex Near RHS Purple 75D, apex RHS fading, outersurface RHS Violet 84A Purple 77A, very tip of apex Purple N77A Keelcolor when Near RHS Yellow 2D, apex Near RHS Purple 75D, apex RHSfading, inner surface RHS Violet 84A Purple 77A, very tip of apex RHSPurple N77A Bud shape Flattened ovate Flattened ovate Bud lengthApproximately 0.9 cm Approximately 0.9 cm Bud diameter Approximately 0.6cm Approximately 0.5 cm Bud color Lower side near RHS Violet Near RHSGreen-White 157A, N82B, upperside near RHS flushed RHS Red-Purple 63BGreen-White 157A Sepal quantity 2, one fully developed, one 2, one fullydeveloped, one minute (less than 1 mm in minute (less than 1 mm inlength), sometimes missing length), sometimes missing Sepal lengthApproximately 3 mm Approximately 3 mm Sepal width Approximately 2 mmApproximately 2 mm Sepal shape Deltate Deltate Sepal aspect CuppedCupped Sepal apex Mucronate Mucronate Sepal margin Entire Entire Sepalcolor, inner RHS Yellow-Green 145A, RHS Yellow-Green 144D surfaceflushed RHS Greyed-Purple 186B Sepal color, outer RHS Yellow-Green 145C,RHS Yellow-Green 144C surface flushed RHS Greyed-Purple 186B Sepaltexture Glabrous Glabrous Fragrance Moderate Strong, sweet scent Stamenquantity Approximately 5 to 10 Approximately 5 to 10 Filament lengthApproximately 0.4 cm Approximately 0.4 cm Filament color Near RHSYellow-Green 145D Near RHS Yellow-Green 150D Anther length 0.1 cm 0.1 cmAnther shape Elongated ovoid Elongated ovoid Anther color Near RHSYellow-Green 145B Near RHS Yellow-Orange 23A Pollen Scant or absent,colored near Scant or absent, colored near Yellow RHS 13A Yellow-Orange23A Pistil quantity 1 1 Pistil length Approximately 0.5 cm Approximately0.7 cm Stigma shape Globular Globular Stigma color Near RHS Yellow-Green145C Near RHS Yellow-Orange 18B Ovary Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B, NearRHS Green 141D, approximately 2 mm in diameter approximately 2 mm indiameter.

Table 4 below lists some of the additional botanical characteristics of‘16ST-9’, also known as STAIRCASE ‘Purple’, ‘16ST-15’, also known asSTAIRCASE ‘Lavender-Blue’, and ‘16ST-10’, also known as STAIRCASE‘Blue’. These tall lines all exhibit the year round floweringcharacteristic, meaning they will flower absent of any cold treatment orvernalization, and/or regardless of day length, and are tolerant to USDAzones 3 to 9. They are compact, herbaceous vigorous perennials with amounding foliar base topped with upright raceme inflorescences. Theleaves emerge directly from the base of the plant, or infrequently occurdirectly on the flowering stem. The leaves are orbicular shaped andpalmately compound, occurring mainly as basal whorls, or infrequentlyalternate along the flowering stem. The inflorescence consists ofsingle, large, papilonaceous flowers evenly and symmetrically arrangedon racemes, with individual flowers lasting approximately 15 days.

TABLE 4 Botanical characteristics of tall varieties ‘16ST-9’, ‘16ST-15’,and ‘16ST-10’ ‘16ST-9’ ‘16ST-15’ ‘16ST-10’ Height Approximately 21 cmApproximately 25 cm Approximately 22 cm to top of foliar to top offoliar to top of foliar plane, approximately plane, approximately plane,approximately 40 cm to top of 60 cm to top of 55 cm to top of floweringplane flowering plane flowering plane Spread Approximately 44 cmApproximately 45 cm Approximately 41 cm Leaf length 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm10 cm to 11.5 cm 10 cm to 12 cm Leaf diameter 13.0 cm 10 cm to 11.5 cm10 cm to 11.5 cm Leaf quantity Approximately 40 Approximately 60Approximately 60 basal leaves, per basal leaves, per basal leaves, perplant. Average range plant. Average range plant. Average range 2 to 6floral stem 6 to 10 floral stem 6 to 10 floral stem leaves, per stemleaves, per stem leaves, per stem Leaflets quantity Average range is 9Average 11 Average 10 to 12 to 11 Leaflets shape OblanceolateOblanceolate Oblanceolate Leaflets arrangement Radial Radial RadialLeaflets length Longest leaflet per Longest leaflet per Longest leafletper leaf range 6.5 cm to leaf range 6.0 cm to leaf range 6.0 cm to 8.0cm; Shortest 6.8 cm; Shortest 7.0 cm; Shortest leaflet per leaf leafletper leaf range leaflet per leaf range average 4.5 cm 4.0 cm to 4.5 cm4.0 cm to 5.0 cm Leaflets width Central leaflet Central leaflet Centralleaflet average 1.4 cm average 1.6 cm average 1.6 cm Leaflets apex Acuteto nearly Acute to nearly Acute to nearly acuminate acuminate acuminateLeaflets base Attenuate Attenuate Attenuate Leaflets margin EntireEntire Entire Leaflets texture, both Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous surfacesLeaflets appearance, Matte Matte Matte both surfaces Leaflets aspectFlat to very slightly Flat to very slightly Flat to very slightlyreflexed upward reflexed downward reflexed upward Leaflets color, upperNear RHS Green Near RHS Green Near RHS Green surface 137B 137A 137ALeaflets color, lower Near RHS Green Near RHS Green Near RHS Greensurface 138A N138C 138B Venation type Pinnate Pinnate Pinnate Venationcolor, Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- upper surfaceGreen 145C Green 144C Green 144C Venation color, Near RHS Yellow- NearRHS Green Near RHS Green lower surface Green 145B 138B 138B Petiolelength Range 9.0 cm to 14.0 cm Range 8.0 cm to 15.0 cm Range 12.0 cm to15.0 cm Petiole diameter 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm 0.3 cm to 0.4cm Petiole color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Green 144D Green 144B Immature petioles flushed with RHSGreyed-Purple 187B along uppermost one third Petiole texture Minutelyhirsute Very minutely Very minutely hirsute hirsute Quantity of flowers50 to 120 flowers 80 to 140 flowers 80 to 110 flowers and buds per andbuds per and buds per inflorescence. inflorescence. inflorescence.Typically 6 to 9 Typically 2 to 6 Typically 2 to 6 inflorescences perinflorescences per inflorescences per plant at one time plant at onetime plant at one time Inflorescence Approximately 6.5 cm Approximately6.5 cm Approximately 8.0 cm diameter to 7.5 cm Inflorescence heightRange 18 cm to 28 cm Range 25 cm to 45 cm Range 25 cm to 40 cm Flowerlength Approximately 2.0 cm Approximately 2.2 cm Approximately 2.1 cm(excluding pedicel) Flower height Average 1.7 cm Average 2.0 cm Average1.5 cm (excluding pedicel) Peduncle length Approximately 4.0 cmApproximately 18.0 cm Approximately 10.0 cm from uppermost fromuppermost from uppermost leaf to lowermost leaf to lowermost leaf tolowermost flower flower flower Peduncle diameter Approximately 0.7 cmApproximately 1.0 cm Approximately 1.1 cm to 1.2 cm Peduncle color NearRHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145B Green 144BGreen 144B Peduncle strength Flexible, very strong Flexible, very strongFlexible, very strong Peduncle texture Slight pubescence Slightpubescence Slight pubescence Pedicel length Approximately 1.2 cmApproximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.3 cm Pedicel diameter Approximately0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cm Pedicel color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145B. Lower Green 144DGreen 144D section flushed with RHS Greyed-Purple 187B Pedicel strengthStrong Strong Strong Pedicel texture Slightly pubescent Slightlypubescent Slightly pubescent Petal quantity and 1 upper banner, 2 1upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2 arrangement lateral “wings” and alateral “wings” and a lateral “wings” and a lower keel lower keel lowerkeel Banner length Approximately 1.8 cm Approximately 1.6 cmApproximately 2.0 cm Banner width Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.6cm Approximately 1.6 cm Banner shape Orbicular, when Orbicular, whenOrbicular, when unfurled unfurled unfurled Banner margin Entire EntireEntire Banner apex Mucronate Mucronate Mucronate Banner base ObtuseObtuse Obtuse Banner texture Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfaces Banner aspect Folded,margins Folded, margins Folded, margins furled furled furled Bannercolor when Near RHS Purple Near RHS Purple Near RHS Purple- opening,outer N79A, light streaking 79D. Base near RHS Violet N82A, surface nearRHS Purple- Yellow-Green 145D streaked RHS N82D. Violet N80A. Base Basalblotch near near RHS N79B RHS Green-White 157D Banner color when NearRHS Purple Near RHS Purple- Near RHS Purple- opening, inner 79D, marginsRHS Violet N82A. Basal Violet N82B. Inner surface N79A blotch near RHShalo near RHS White 155D Greyed-Purple 187B. Basal blotch near RHSGreen-White 157D Banner color when Near RHS Purple Near RHS Purple- NearRHS Violet opened, outer surface N79C. Faint central Violet N82A.Central 83A, streaked RHS streak RHS 79D blotch near RHS Purple-VioletN82D. Violet 84D Central blotch near RHS Green 130D Banner color whenNear RHS Purple Near RHS Violet Near RHS Violet opened, inner surface79B. Base near RHS 83A. Central blotch 86A, lightly streaked Violet 84D.near RHS Violet RHS Violet 85A. 84D, flushed N82D Central blotch nearRHS White 155D Wing length Approximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.5 cmApproximately 1.3 cm Wing width Approximately 1.0 cm Approximately 1.0cm Approximately 1.1 cm Wing shape Kidney shaped Kidney shaped Kidneyshaped Wing margin Entire Entire Entire Wing apex Rounded, frequentlyRounded, frequently Rounded, frequently fused to opposite fused toopposite fused to opposite wing at apex wing at apex wing at apex Wingbase Truncate Truncate Truncate Wing texture Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfacesWing aspect Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Wing colorwhen Near RHS Purple Near RHS White Near RHS White opening, outer N79A,light streaking 155D, large blotch 155A, faintly flushed surface nearRHS Purple- near apex flushed RHS 86A Violet N80A. Base RHS N82C nearRHS N79B Wing color when Near RHS Purple Near RHS White Near RHS Whiteopening, inner 79D, margins RHS 155D 155A surface N79A Wing color whenNear RHS Purple Background color Near RHS Violet opened, outer surfaceN79C. Faint central near RHS Violet 83B, flushed and streak RHS 79DN87D, flushed and veined with RHS heavily veined with Purple-Violet 80B.RHS Violet 86A Basal blotch near RHS Violet 85B Wing color when Near RHSPurple Near RHS Violet Near RHS Violet opened, inner surface 79B. Basenear RHS 85A, veins near RHS 83B, central section Violet 84D Violet-BlueN89D RHS Purple-Violet N82C, veins RHS 83B. Basal blotch near RHS Violet85C Keel length Approximately 1.4 cm Approximately 1.4 cm Approximately1.7 cm Keel width Approximately 0.65 cm Approximately 0.5 cmApproximately 0.7 cm Keel shape Scythe Scythe Scythe Keel margin EntireEntire Entire Keel apex Awn-like Awn-like Awn-like Keel base TruncateTruncate Truncate Keel texture Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfaces Keel aspect FoldedFolded Folded Keel color when Near RHS Violet Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSYellow- opening, outer 84D, central margin Green 150D. Apex Green 145D.Apex surface flushed RHS Purple- near RHS Violet- near RHS Violet-Violet N81C. Apex Blue N89A Blue N89A near RHS Purple 79A Keel colorwhen Near RHS Violet Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- opening, inner84D, central margin Green 150D. Apex Green 145D. Apex surface flushedRHS Purple- near RHS Violet- near RHS Violet- Violet N81C. Apex BlueN89A Blue N89A near RHS Purple 79A Keel color when Near RHS Violet NearRHS White Near RHS White opened, outer surface 84D, central margin 155D,upper 2/3 N155B. Apex near flushed RHS Purple- flushed and veined RHSViolet-Blue Violet N81C. Apex RHS Violet-Blue N89A near RHS Purple 90B.Apex near RHS 79A Violet-Blue N92A Keel color when Near RHS Violet NearRHS White Near RHS White opened, inner surface 84D, central margin 155D,upper 2/3 N155B. Apex near flushed RHS Purple- flushed and veined RHSViolet-Blue Violet N81C. Apex RHS Violet-Blue N89A near RHS Purple 90B.Apex near RHS 79A Violet-Blue N92A Bud shape Flattened, kidneyFlattened, kidney Flattened, kidney shaped shaped shaped Bud lengthApproximately 1.4 cm Approximately 1.6 cm Approximately 1.5 cm Buddiameter Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.9 cm Approximately 0.7 cmBud color Near RHS Purple Near RHS Green- Near RHS Yellow- N77C. Basenear White 157A, upper Green 145C, upper RHS Green 141D section flushedRHS section flushed RHS Violet 84A Purple-Violet N81B Sepal quantity 2,one fully 2, one fully 2, one fully developed, one developed, onedeveloped, one minute (less than 1 mm minute (less than 1 mm minute(less than 1 mm in length), in length), in length), sometimes missingsometimes missing sometimes missing Sepal length Approximately 5 mmApproximately 6 mm Approximately 7 mm Sepal width Approximately 3 mmApproximately 4 mm Approximately 4 mm Sepal shape Deltate DeltateDeltate Sepal aspect Cupped Cupped Cupped Sepal apex Mucronate MucronateMucronate Sepal margin Entire Entire Entire Sepal color, both RHSYellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green surfaces 145D 144C 144DSepal texture Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Fragrance Faint Strong, sweetscent Strong, sweet scent Stamen quantity Approximately 5 Approximately5 Approximately 5 to 10 Filament length Approximately 0.7 cmApproximately 0.9 cm Approximately 0.9 cm Filament color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green- Green 150D Green 149D White157D Anther length 0.2 cm 0.1 cm 0.1 cm Anther shape Elongated ovoidLinear Linear Anther color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Orange Near RHSOrange Orange 17B 26A 24A Pollen Scant, colored near Moderate, coloredModerate, colored Greyed-Orange near Orange N125A near Greyed-OrangeN167A N163B Pistil quantity 1 1 1 Pistil length Approximately 1.8 cmApproximately 1.9 cm Approximately 1.9 cm Stigma shape Globular GlobularGlobular Stigma color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow-Green 145D Green 145B Green 145C Ovary Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow-Near RHS Yellow- Green 150D, Green 145B, Green 145C, approximately 3 mmapproximately 4 mm approximately 4 mm in diameter in diameter indiameter

Table 5 below lists some of the additional botanical characteristics of‘16ST-14’, also known as STAIRCASE ‘Blue Yellow’, ‘LSDOR04-0’, alsoknown as STAIRCASE ‘Orange Yellow’ (U.S. Patent Application No.62/604,473) and ‘LSDRW03-0’, also known as STAIRCASE ‘Rose White’ (U.S.Patent Application No. 62/604,472). These tall lines all exhibit theyear round flowering characteristic, meaning they will flower absent ofany cold treatment or vernalization, and/or regardless of day length,and are tolerant to USDA zones 3 to 9. They are compact, herbaceousvigorous perennials with a mounding foliar base topped with uprightraceme inflorescences. The leaves emerge directly from the base of theplant, or infrequently occur directly on the flowering stem. The leavesare orbicular shaped and palmately compound, occurring mainly as basalwhorls, or infrequently alternate along the flowering stem. Theinflorescence consists of single, large, papilonaceous flowers evenlyand symmetrically arranged on racemes, with individual flowers lastingapproximately 15 days.

TABLE 5 Botanical characteristics of tall varieties ‘16ST-14,‘LSDOR04-0’, and ‘LSDRW03-0’ 16ST-14 ‘LSDOR04-0’ ‘LSDRW03-0’ HeightApproximately 25 cm Approximately 25 cm Approximately 20 cm to top offoliar to top of foliar to top of foliar plane, approximately plane,approximately plane, approximately 55 to 65 cm to top of 60 cm to top of48 cm to top of flowering plane flowering plane flowering plane SpreadApproximately 40 cm Approximately 35 cm Approximately 35 cm Leaf length9.0 cm to 11.0 cm 10 cm to 12.0 cm 12 cm Leaf diameter 9.0 cm to 11.0 cm10 cm to 15.0 cm 11.5 cm Leaf quantity Approximately 50 Approximately 20to Approximately 20 to basal leaves per 25 basal leaves per 30 basalleaves per plant. Range of 6 to plant. Range of 4 to plant. Range of 8to 8 floral stem leaves, 8 floral stem leaves 14 floral stem leaves perstem per stem per stem Leaflets quantity Average 10 Average 11 Average 9to 12 Leaflets shape Oblanceolate Oblanceolate Oblanceolate Leafletsarrangement Radial Radial Radial Leaflets length Longest leaflet perLongest leaflet per Longest leaflet per leaf range 6.0 cm to leaf range6.0 cm to leaf average 6.5 cm; 7.0 cm; Shortest 8.0 cm; ShortestShortest leaflet per leaflet per leaf range leaflet per leaf leafaverage 4.7 cm 4.0 cm to 5.0 cm average 4.5 cm Leaflets width Centralleaflet Central leaflet range Central leaflet average 1.9 cm 1.9 cm to2.3 cm average 1.6 cm Leaflets apex Acute to nearly Acuminate Acute tonearly acuminate acuminate Leaflets base Attenuate Attenuate AttenuateLeaflets margin Entire Entire Entire Leaflets texture, both GlabrousGlabrous Glabrous surfaces Leaflets appearance, Matte Matte Matte bothsurfaces Leaflets aspect Flat to very slightly Flat to very slightlyFlat to very slightly reflexed upward reflexed downward reflexeddownward Leaflets color, upper Near RHS Green Near RHS Green Near RHSGreen surface 141A 137A 137B Leaflets color, lower Near RHS Green NearRHS Green Near RHS Green surface 141C 138A 138A Venation type PinnatePinnate Pinnate Venation color, Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- NearRHS Yellow- upper surface Green 144C Green 145A Green 145A Venationcolor, Near RHS Green Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green lower surface 141DGreen 145B 145C Petiole length Range 12.0 cm to Range 6.0 cm to Range8.0 cm to 11.0 cm 15.0 cm 16.0 cm Petiole diameter 0.3 cm to 0.4 cm 0.5cm 0.4 cm Petiole color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSYellow- Green 144C Green 145B Green 144D Petiole texture Very minutelyMinutely hirsute Minutely hirsute hirsute Quantity of flowers 70 to 100flowers 60 to 110 flowers 40 to 120 flowers and buds per and buds perand buds per inflorescence. inflorescence. inflorescence. Typically 2 to6 Typically 4 to 6 Typically 4 to 5 inflorescences per inflorescencesper inflorescences per plant at one time plant at one time plant at onetime Inflorescence Approximately 7.5 cm Approximately 7.5 cmApproximately 7.5 cm diameter Inflorescence height Range 20 cm to 40 cmRange 25 cm to 45 cm Range 20 cm to 45 cm Flower length Approximately2.1 cm Approximately 1.9 cm Approximately 1.9 cm (excluding pedicel)Flower height Average range 1.8 cm Average range 1.7 cm Average range2.0 cm (excluding pedicel) Peduncle length Approximately 10.0 cmApproximately 7.0 cm Approximately 7.0 cm from uppermost from uppermostfrom uppermost leaf to lowermost leaf to lowermost leaf to lowermostflower flower flower Peduncle diameter Approximately 1.1 cmApproximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Peduncle color Near RHS GreenNear RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- 141C Green N144D Green 145A Pedunclestrength Flexible, very strong Flexible, very strong Flexible,moderately strong Peduncle texture Slight pubescence Short pubescenceShort pubescence Pedicel length Approximately 1.2 cm Approximately 1.0cm Approximately 1.0 cm to 1.5 cm Pedicel diameter Approximately 0.2 cmApproximately 0.2 cm Approximately 0.15 cm Pedicel color Near RHSGreyed- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green Red 180D Green 145B 138D,flushed Purple N77C Pedicel strength Strong Strong Strong Pediceltexture Slightly pubescent Softly pubescent Softly pubescent Petalquantity and 1 upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2arrangement lateral “wings” and a lateral “wings” and a lateral “wings”and a lower keel lower keel lower keel Banner length Approximately 2.0cm Approximately 1.7 cm Approximately 2.0 cm Banner width Approximately1.7 cm Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Banner shape Orbicular,when Orbicular, when Orbicular, when unfurled unfurled unfurled Bannermargin Entire Entire Entire Banner apex Mucronate Mucronate MucronateBanner base Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse Banner texture Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfacesBanner aspect Folded, margins Folded, margins Folded, margins furledfurled furled Banner color when Near RHS Green- Near RHS Yellow Uppersection near opening, outer White 157D, flushed 4A RHS Yellow-Greensurface RHS Yellow 4C, 150D, mid-section large basal blotch RHSRed-Purple near RHS Violet- 65D, basal blotch Purple N82C near RHS Red-Purple 71A Banner color when Near RHS Green- Near RHS Yellow Near RHSRed- opening, inner White 157D large 4C Purple 65D, basal surface basalblotch near blotch near RHS RHS Violet-Purple Red-Purple 71A N82D Bannercolor when Apical section near Near RHS Yellow Near RHS White opened,outer surface RHS Yellow 7C, 8B, center stripe N155D, base mid-sectionnear RHS 7A blotched RHS Red- RHS White 155D Purple 70A large basalblotch near RHS Violet 86A Banner color when Apical section near NearRHS Yellow Near RHS White opened, inner surface RHS Yellow 7D, 9D,center stripe N155D, base mid-section near RHS 8A blotched RHS Red- RHSWhite 155D Purple 70A large basal blotch near RHS Violet 86D Bannercolor when Apex near Yellow Near RHS Yellow Near RHS White fading, outersurface 5C. Apical section 8B, center stripe N155D, base near RHS YellowRHS 8A blotched RHS Red- 4D, mid-section near Purple 70A and 70C RHSWhite 155D large basal blotch near RHS Violet N88B Banner color whenApex near Yellow Near RHS Yellow Near RHS White fading, inner surface5C. Apical section 9D, center stripe N155D, base near RHS Yellow RHS 8Ablotched RHS Red- 4D, mid-section near Purple 70A and 70C RHS White 155Dlarge basal blotch near RHS Violet N88C Wing length Approximately 1.6 cmApproximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.7 cm Wing width Approximately 0.9cm Approximately 1.0 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Wing shape Ovate OvateOvate Wing margin Entire Entire Entire Wing apex Rounded, frequentlyRounded, frequently Rounded, frequently fused to opposite fused toopposite fused to opposite wing at apex wing at apex wing at apex Wingbase Truncate Truncate Truncate Wing texture Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfacesWing aspect Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Wing colorwhen Near RHS Purple- Near RHS Yellow Near RHS Yellow- opening, outerViolet N82B, lower 12C, flushed RHS Green 150D surface section RHS N82A,Orange-Red N34C base slightly flushed with RHS White 155A Wing colorwhen Near RHS Purple- Near RHS Yellow Near RHS Red- opening, innerViolet N82B, lower 12D, slightly flushed Purple 65D surface section RHSN82A, RHS Orange-Red base slightly flushed N34C with RHS White 155A Wingcolor when Near RHS Violet- Near RHS Orange- Near RHS Red- opened, outersurface Blue 90C, small Red 35A, stripes Purple 71D section of base nearRHS yellow 12C RHS Violet 83A. A few small streaks near RHS Yellow 5DWing color when Near RHS Violet- Near RHS Yellow Near RHS Red- opened,inner surface Blue 90D, small 13D, stripes RHS Purple 73A section ofbase near Orange-Red 35C RHS Violet 83A. Moderate small streaks near RHSYellow 5D Wing color when Near RHS Violet- Near RHS Orange- Near RHSRed- fading, outer surface Blue 94C, small Red 35B, stripes Purple 73A,streaked section of base near RHS yellow 12C RHS N74B 94B. Moderatesmall streaks near RHS White 155A Wing color when Near RHS Violet- NearRHS Yellow Near RHS Red- fading, inner surface Blue 94C, small 13D,stripes RHS Purple N74B section of base near Orange-Red 35C RHS 94B.Moderate small streaks near RHS White 155A Keel length Approximately 1.3cm Approximately 1.2 cm Approximately 1.4 cm Keel width Approximately0.5 cm Approximately 0.5 cm Approximately 0.7 cm Keel shape ScytheScythe Scythe Keel margin Entire Entire Entire Keel apex Awn-likeAwn-like Awn-like Keel base Truncate Truncate Truncate Keel textureSmooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfacessurfaces surfaces Keel aspect Folded Folded Folded Keel color when NearRHS Yellow Near RHS Yellow Near RHS Yellow- opening, outer 4D, apex RHSViolet 11D, apex RHS Green 150D, apex surface N88C Greyed-Purple 187ARHS Purple N79B Keel color when Near RHS Yellow Near RHS Yellow Near RHSYellow- opening, inner 4D, apex Violet 11D, apex Greyed- Green 150D,apex surface N88C Purple 187A Purple N79C Keel color when Near RHSYellow Near RHS Yellow Near RHS White opened, outer surface 4C, apex RHS4D, apex RHS 155D, apex RHS Violet-Blue 90B Greyed-Purple 187A Purple77A, very tip of apex RHS Purple N77A Keel color when Near RHS YellowNear RHS Yellow Near RHS Purple opened, inner surface 4C, apex RHS 4D,apex RHS 75D, apex RHS Violet-Blue 90C Greyed-Purple 187A Purple 77A,very tip of apex RHS Purple N77A Keel color when Near RHS Yellow NearRHS White Near RHS Purple fading, outer surface 5D, apex RHS 155D, RHSGreyed- 75D, apex RHS Violet-Blue 91A Purple 187A Purple 77A, very tipof apex RHS Purple N77A Keel color when Near RHS Yellow Near RHS WhiteNear RHS Purple fading, inner surface 5D, apex RHS 155D, RHS Greyed-75D, apex RHS Violet-Blue 91A Purple 187A Purple 77A, very tip of apexRHS Purple N77A Bud shape Flattened ovate Flattened ovate Flattenedovate Bud length Approximately 1.3 cm Approximately 1.1 cm Approximately1.5 cm Bud diameter Approximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.9 cmApproximately 0.8 cm Bud color Lower side near RHS Near RHS Green- NearRHS Red- Violet N87B, Yellow 1C Purple 65D upperside near RHSGreen-White 157A Sepal quantity 2, one fully 2, one fully 2, one fullydeveloped, one developed, one developed, one minute (less than 1 mmminute (less than 1 mm minute (less than 1 mm in length), in length), inlength), sometimes missing sometimes missing sometimes missing Sepallength Approximately 4 mm Approximately 6 mm Approximately 5 mm Sepalwidth Approximately 3 mm Approximately 4 mm Approximately 4 mm Sepalshape Deltate Deltate Deltate Sepal aspect Cupped Cupped Cupped Sepalapex Mucronate Mucronate Mucronate Sepal margin Entire Entire EntireSepal color, upper RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Greensurface 145A, flushed RHS 145C 144D Greyed-Purple 186B Sepal color,lower RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green surface 145C,flushed RHS 145C 144C Greyed-Purple 186B Sepal texture Glabrous GlabrousGlabrous Fragrance Moderate scent Strong, sweet scent Strong, sweetscent Stamen quantity Approximately 5 to Approximately 8 Approximately 810 Filament length Approximately 0.7 cm Approximately 0.5 cmApproximately 0.5 cm Filament color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow-Near RHS Yellow- Green 145D Green 145D Green 150D Anther length 0.2 cm0.2 cm 0.3 cm Anther shape Elongated ovoid Elongated ovoid Elongatedovoid Anther color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B Green 145B Orange 23A Pollen Scant, colored near Scant,colored near Scant, colored near RHS Yellow-Orange RHS Yellow-Orange RHSYellow-Orange 23A 21A 23A Pistil quantity 1 1 1 Pistil lengthApproximately 1.1 cm Approximately 1.1 cm Approximately 1.5 cm Stigmashape Globular Globular Globular Stigma color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145C Green 145D Orange 18B Ovary Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green Green 145B, Green 145C, 141D,approximately approximately 2 mm approximately 2 mm 2 mm in diameter indiameter in diameter

Table 6 below lists some of the additional botanical characteristics of‘LSTRE04-0’, also known as STAIRCASE ‘Red’ (U.S. Patent Application No.62/604,475), ‘LSTBL01-0’, also known as STAIRCASE ‘Sky Blue’ (U.S.Patent Application No. 62/604,474), and ‘LSTYE05-0’, also known asSTAIRCASE ‘Yellow’ (U.S. Patent Application No. 62/604,476). These talllines all exhibit the year round flowering characteristic, meaning theywill flower absent of any cold treatment or vernalization, and/orregardless of day length, and are tolerant to USDA zones 3 to 9. Theyare compact, herbaceous vigorous perennials with a mounding foliar basetopped with upright raceme inflorescences. The leaves emerge directlyfrom the base of the plant, or infrequently occur directly on theflowering stem. The leaves are orbicular shaped and palmately compound,occurring mainly as basal whorls, or infrequently alternate along theflowering stem. The inflorescence consists of single, large,papilonaceous flowers evenly and symmetrically arranged on racemes, withindividual flowers lasting approximately 15 days.

TABLE 6 Botanical characteristics of tall varieties ‘LSTRE04-0,‘LSTBL01-0’, and ‘LSTYE05-0’ ‘LSTRE04-0’ ‘LSTBL01-0’ ‘LSTYE05-0’ HeightApproximately 25 cm Approximately 20 cm Approximately 28 cm to top offoliar to top of foliar to top of foliar plane, approximately plane,approximately plane, approximately 65 cm to top of 50 cm to top of 60 cmto top of flowering plane flowering plane flowering plane SpreadApproximately 40 cm Approximately 35 cm Approximately 40 cm Leaf length12.0 cm 7.0 cm to 11.0 cm 11.0 cm to 13.0 cm Leaf diameter 13.0 cm 7.0cm to 11.0 cm 13.0 cm Leaf quantity Approximately 20 to Approximately 20to Approximately 20 30 basal leaves, per 30 basal leaves, per basalleaves, per plant. Range of 2 to plant. Range of 6 to plant. Range of 4to 4 floral stem leaves, 12 floral stem leaves, 8 floral stem leaves,per stem per stem per stem Leaflets quantity Range 10 to 11 Range 10 to11 Range 11 to 13 Leaflets shape Oblanceolate Oblanceolate OblanceolateLeaflets arrangement Radial Radial Radial Leaflets length Longestleaflet per Longest leaflet per Longest leaflet per leaf average 7.5 cm;leaf range 5.0 cm to leaf range 7.0 cm to Shortest leaflet per 7.0 cm;Shortest 10.0 cm; Shortest leaf average 4.5 cm leaflet per leaf leafletper leaf range average 4.5 cm 3.5 to 7.0 cm Leaflets width Centralleaflet Central leaflet range Central leaflet average 2.0 cm 1.6 cm to2.0 cm average 1.7 cm Leaflets apex Acute to nearly Acute to nearlyAcute to nearly acuminate acuminate acuminate Leaflets base AttenuateAttenuate Attenuate Leaflets margin Entire Entire Entire Leafletstexture, both Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous surfaces Leaflets appearance,Matte Matte Matte both surfaces Leaflets aspect Flat to very slightlyFlat to very slightly Flat to very slightly reflexed downward reflexeddownward reflexed downward Leaflets color, upper Near RHS Green Near RHSGreen Near RHS Green surface 137A 137B 141B Leaflets color, lower NearRHS Green Near RHS Green Near RHS Green surface 137D 138A 137D Venationtype Pinnate Pinnate Pinnate Venation color, Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- upper surface Green 145A Green 145B Green 145AVenation color, Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Green lowersurface Green 145A Green 144D 145C Petiole length Range 10.0 cm to Range8.0 cm to 15.0 cm Range 9.0 cm to 12.0 cm 12.0 cm Petiole diameter 0.6cm 0.5 cm 0.4 cm Petiole color Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- NearRHS Yellow- Green 144D Green 144C Green 145C Petiole texture Minutelyhirsute Minutely hirsute Minutely hirsute Quantity of flowers 60 to 130flowers 40 to 100 flowers 40 to 160 flowers and buds per and buds perand buds per inflorescence. inflorescence. inflorescence. Typically 4 to6 Typically 5 to 8 Typically 5 to 9 inflorescences per inflorescencesper inflorescences per plant at one time plant at one time plant at onetime Inflorescence Approximately 8.0 cm Approximately 8.0 cmApproximately 9.0 cm diameter to 12.0 cm Inflorescence height Range 20cm to 45 cm Range 15 cm to 30 cm Range 19 cm to 45 cm Flower lengthApproximately 1.9 cm Approximately 2.2 cm Approximately 2.5 cm(excluding pedicel) Flower height Average 2.0 cm Average 1.8 cm Average2.1 cm (excluding pedicel) Peduncle length Approximately 7.0 cmApproximately 5.0 cm Approximately 7.0 cm from uppermost from uppermostfrom uppermost leaf to lowermost leaf to lowermost leaf to lowermostflower flower flower Peduncle diameter Approximately 0.9 cmApproximately 0.8 cm Approximately 0.8 cm Peduncle color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145A, flushed Green 145AGreen 145B Greyed-Purple 187B Peduncle strength Flexible, very strongFlexible, very strong Flexible, very strong Peduncle texture Shortpubescence Short pubescence Slight pubescence Pedicel lengthApproximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.2 cm Pediceldiameter Approximately 0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cm Approximately 0.2 cmPedicel color Near RHS Greyed- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Red186B Green 145A Green 145B Pedicel strength Strong Strong Strong Pediceltexture Softly pubescent Softly pubescent Slightly pubescent Petalquantity and 1 upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2 1 upper banner, 2arrangement lateral “wings” and a lateral “wings” and a lateral “wings”and a lower keel lower keel lower keel Banner length Approximately 2.0cm Approximately 1.7 cm Approximately 1.8 cm Banner width Approximately1.0 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Approximately 1.0 cm Banner shape Orbicular,when Orbicular, when Orbicular, when unfurled unfurled unfurled Bannermargin Entire Entire Entire Banner apex Mucronate Mucronate MucronateBanner base Obtuse Obtuse Obtuse Banner texture Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfacesBanner aspect Folded, margins Folded, margins Folded, margins furledfurled furled Banner color when Base near RHS Near RHS White Near RHSYellow opening, outer White N155C 155A large basal 7A surface remainingsurface blotch near RHS near RHS Red- Purple 77A Purple 61C Banner colorwhen Base near RHS Near RHS White Near RHS Yellow opening, inner WhiteN155C 155A large basal 7A surface remaining surface blotch near RHS nearRHS Greyed- Purple 79D Purple 186C Banner color when Base near RHS NearRHS White Near RHS Yellow opened, outer surface White 155D, 155A largebasal 7A remaining surface blotch near RHS near RHS Red 53A Violet 86ABanner color when Base near RHS Near RHS White Near RHS Yellow opened,inner surface White N155D, 155A large basal 7A remaining surface blotchnear RHS near RHS Red- Violet 86C Purple 64A Banner color when Base nearRHS Near RHS White Near RHS Yellow fading, outer surface White N155D,155A large basal 7A remaining surface blotch near RHS near RHS Red-Violet 86C Purple 70A and 70C Banner color when Base near RHS Near RHSWhite Near RHS Yellow fading, inner surface White N155D, 155A largebasal 7A remaining surface blotch near RHS RHS Red-Purple Violet 86D 70Aand 70C Wing length Approximately 1.7 cm Approximately 1.6 cmApproximately 1.6 cm Wing width Approximately 1.3 cm Approximately 1.0cm Approximately 1.3 cm Wing shape Ovate Ovate Kidney shaped Wing marginEntire Entire Entire Wing apex Rounded, frequently Rounded, frequentlyRounded, frequently fused to opposite fused to opposite fused toopposite wing at apex wing at apex wing at apex Wing base TruncateTruncate Truncate Wing texture Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous allSmooth, glabrous all surfaces surfaces surfaces Wing aspect Inwardlycupped Inwardly cupped Inwardly cupped Wing color when Near RHS Red 53CNear RHS Purple- Near RHS Yellow opening, outer Violet N81A, lower 7Asurface section RHS N81B, base flushed with RHS White 155A Wing colorwhen Near RHS Red 53C Near RHS Purple- Near RHS Yellow opening, innerViolet N82C, lower 7A surface section N82D, base very slightly flushedwith RHS White 155A Wing color when Near RHS Red 53D Near RHS VioletNear RHS Yellow opened, outer surface 83A, very small 7A section of basenear RHS Violet 84D Wing color when Near RHS Red 53D Near RHS VioletNear RHS Yellow opened, inner surface 86A, very small 7A section of basenear RHS Violet 84D Wing color when Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Violet-Near RHS Yellow fading, outer surface Blue N89A, flushed 7A Violet 83B,small section of base RHS Violet 84C Wing color when Near RHS Red 52ANear RHS Violet Near RHS Yellow fading, inner surface 86B, streaks ofRHS 7A 84C and 84D emerging from base Keel length Approximately 1.2 cmApproximately 1.4 cm Approximately 1.4 cm Keel width Approximately 0.6cm Approximately 0.5 cm Approximately 0.65 cm Keel shape Scythe ScytheScythe Keel margin Entire Entire Entire Keel apex Awn-like Awn-likeAwn-like Keel base Truncate Truncate Truncate Keel texture Smooth,glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all Smooth, glabrous all surfaces surfacessurfaces Keel aspect Folded Folded Folded Keel color when Near RHS Red52A Near RHS White Near RHS Yellow- opening, both 155A, apex RHS Green150D surfaces Violet 86A Keel color when Near RHS Red 52B Near RHSViolet Near RHS Yellow opened, outer surface 84D, apex RHS 4B Violet 86AKeel color when Near RHS Red 52A Near RHS Violet Near RHS Yellow opened,inner surface 84D, apex RHS 4B Violet 86A Keel color when Near RHS Red52C Near RHS Violet Near RHS Yellow fading, both surfaces 84D, apex RHS4B Violet 86A Bud shape Flattened ovate Flattened ovate Flattened kidneyshaped Bud length Approximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.5 cmApproximately 1.5 cm Bud diameter Approximately 1.0 cm Approximately 0.8cm Approximately 1.0 cm Bud color Lower side near RHS Lower side nearRHS Near RHS Green- Red 52A blushed Purple-Violet N80B, White 157A,flushed RHS 53A, upper side upper side near RHS and striped RHS near RHSRed- Green-White 157A Green-Yellow 1B Purple N57C Sepal quantity 2, onefully 2, one fully 2, one fully developed, one developed, one developed,one minute (less than 1 mm minute (less than 1 mm minute (less than 1 mmin length), in length), in length), sometimes missing sometimes missingsometimes missing Sepal length Approximately 5 mm Approximately 4 mmApproximately 6 mm Sepal width Approximately 4 mm Approximately 3 mmApproximately 4 mm Sepal shape Deltate Deltate Deltate Sepal aspectCupped Cupped Cupped Sepal apex Mucronate Mucronate Mucronate Sepalmargin Entire Entire Entire Sepal color, upper RHS Yellow-Green RHSYellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green surface 145C 145C 145C Sepal color, lowerRHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green RHS Yellow-Green surface 145D 145D145C Sepal texture Glabrous Glabrous Glabrous Fragrance Strong, sweetscent Strong, sweet and Strong, sweet scent spicy scent Stamen quantityApproximately 8 Approximately 10 Approximately 10 Filament lengthApproximately 0.9 cm Approximately 0.6 cm Approximately 0.6 cm Filamentcolor Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Green 145DGreen 145D Green 145D Anther length 0.3 cm 0.2 cm 0.2 cm Anther shapeElongated ovoid Elongated ovoid Elongated ovoid Anther color Near RHSYellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Greyed- Orange 15B Green 145B Orange168B Pollen Scant, colored near Scant, colored near Scant, colored nearRHS Yellow 13C RHS Yellow-Orange RHS Greyed-Orange 23A N170A Pistilquantity 1 1 1 Pistil length Approximately 1.5 cm Approximately 1.1 cmApproximately 1.4 cm Stigma shape Globular Globular Globular Stigmacolor Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Near RHS Yellow- Orange 15BGreen 145C Green 145C Ovary Near RHS Green Near RHS Yellow- Near RHSGreen 143D, approximately Green 145B, 145C, approximately 2 mm indiameter approximately 2 mm 2 mm in diameter in diameterAdditional Genetic Testing with the Markers Disclosed Herein

DNA was extracted from two plants of 16 varieties each using techniquesknown in the art and a standard PCR amplification was performed usingthe primer sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 3 and SEQ ID NO: 4 (see alsoNelson, M. N. et al., 2017). The PCR targeted exonic portions of aFlowering Locus T (FT) homologue in a distant Lupine relative,Lupinus-angustifolius.

As shown in Table 7 below, the resulting PCR product for all 16 yearround flowering varieties tested was 224 base pairs.

TABLE 7 All year round flowering varieties tested show 224 base pairmarker Contains Marker Code Name Variety or Commercial Name 224LMIBW03-0 KELPIE ® Blue White Yes LMIRE05-0 KELPIE ® Red Yes LMIYE06-0KELPIE ® Yellow Yes LMIBY04-0 KELPIE ® Blue Yellow Yes LMIRW01-0KELPIE ® Red White Yes 16ST-9 (GFB2185) STAIRCASE ® Deep Purple Yes16ST-15 (GFB2691) STAIRCASE ® Blue Purple Yes 16ST-10 (LSTBL01-1)STAIRCASE ® Blue Yes 16ST-14 (LSTBY07-0) STAIRCASE ® Blue with YellowYes Bicolor LSTDBW08-0 STAIRCASE ® Dark Blue White Yes LSDOR04-0STAIRCASE ® Orange Yes LSDRW03-0 STAIRCASE ® Rose-White Yes LSTRE04-0STAIRCASE ® Red Yes LSTBL01-0 STAIRCASE ® Sky Blue Yes LSTYE05-0STAIRCASE ® Yellow Yes LSTYE05-1 STAIRCASE ® Yellow Improved Yes

Table 8 shows the specific Lupine lines in each NCIMB seed deposit.

TABLE 8 Lupine Lines in Seed Deposit NCIMB No. NCIMB No. 42735 43446 GFBRef. No. Commercial Name X LSTBL01-1 Staircase ® Blue X LSTBY07-0Staircase ® Blue Yellow X LSDOR04-0 Staircase ® Orange X LSTRE04-0Staircase ® Red X LSDRW03-0 Staircase ® Rose White X LSTYE05-0Staircase ® Yellow X LKERW01-0 Kelpie ® Red-White X LKEWH02-0 Kelpie ®White X LKEYE03-0 Kelpie ® Yellow X LMIBW03-0 Kelpie ® Blue White XLMIBY04-0 Kelpie ® Blue Yellow X GFB2684 Kelpie ® Purple X X GFB2176Kelpie ® Red X LMIRE05-0 Kelpie ® Red X LMIRW01-0 Kelpie ® Red White XGFB2685 Kelpie ® Red-Rose X GFB2686 Kelpie ® Rose-White X GFB2687Kelpie ® Scarlet- Yellow X LMIYE06-0 Kelpie ® Yellow X GFB2188Staircase ® Dark Blue- Yellow X GFB2691 Staircase ® Blue Purple X XGFB2693 Staircase ® Blue White X LSTDBW08-0 Staircase ® Dark Blue WhiteX GFB2688 Staircase ® Lavender- White X GFB2184 Staircase ® Pink XGFB2185 Staircase ® Purple X GFB2689 Staircase ® Purple- Yellow XGFB2690 Staircase ® Red-Pink X LSDSC02-0 Staircase ® Scarlet Yellow XLSTBL01-0 Staircase ® Sky Blue X GFB2692 Staircase ® White X LSTYE05-1Staircase ® Yellow ImprovedAdditional Lines Exhibiting the Year Round Flowering Characteristic

FIGS. 8 to 10 show additional dwarf lupine (Russel strains) of variouscolors and color combinations that exhibit the year round floweringtrait. The year round flowering plants were grown from tissue culture inSanta Paula, Calif. The plants were deflasked the Jul. 18, 2018 andplaced into 72 unit liner trays. Liners were transplanted 7 to 10 weekslater into 1 gallon containers and grown in a greenhouse. No additionalcold treatment for vernalization was given and no plant growthregulators were used. No artificial light was used and irrigation wasdone by hand-watering. Photographs were taken in March 2019 when theplants were approximately 8 months old.

FIGS. 11 to 22 show additional dwarf and tall lupine (Russel strains) ofvarious colors and color combinations that exhibit the year roundflowering trait. The year round flowering plants were grown underJapanese greenhouse conditions and were photographed April 2019. Noadditional cold treatment for vernalization was given and no plantgrowth regulators were used. No artificial light was used and irrigationwas done by hand-watering. Photographs were taken in April 2019 when theplants were approximately 8 months old.

FIG. 23 show additional tall lupine (Russel strains) of dark blue andwhite color combinations that exhibits the year round flowering trait.The year round flowering plants were grown from tissue culture in SantaPaula, Calif. The plants were deflasked the July 2017 and placed into 72unit liner trays. Liners were transplanted 7 to 10 weeks later into 1gallon containers and grown in a greenhouse. No additional coldtreatment for vernalization was given and no plant growth regulatorswere used. No artificial light was used and irrigation was done byhand-watering. Photographs were taken in February 2018 when the plantswere approximately 7 months old.

FIG. 24 show additional tall lupine (Russel strains) of yellow colorthat exhibits the year round flowering trait. The year round floweringplants were grown from tissue culture in Santa Paula, Calif. The plantswere deflasked the July 2017 and placed into 72 unit liner trays. Linerswere transplanted 7 to 10 weeks later into 1 gallon containers and grownin a greenhouse. No additional cold treatment for vernalization wasgiven and no plant growth regulators were used. No artificial light wasused and irrigation was done by hand-watering. Photographs were taken inMarch 2017 when the plants were approximately 8 months old.

Further Embodiments

Characterization of the Year Round Flowering Lupine Recessive AlleleUsing Complementation Assays

The recessive allele responsible for year round flowering of the lupineof the present application can be identified using complementationassays, which are well-known in the art. See for example, Griffiths etal. “An Introduction to Genetic Analysis” 7^(th) Edition. W.H. Freeman(2000), explaining how a mutant condition that is determined by arecessive allele can be determined.

Breeding with Year Round Flowering Lupine

The goal of ornamental plant breeding is to develop new, unique andsuperior ornamental varieties and hybrids. The breeder initially selectsand crosses two or more parental lines, followed by repeated selfing andselection, producing many new genetic combinations. The breeder cantheoretically generate billions of different genetic combinations viacrossing, selection, selfing and mutations. Therefore, a breeder willnever develop the same variety genetically and having the same traitsfrom the exact same parents.

Each year, the plant breeder selects the germplasm to advance to thenext generation. This germplasm is grown under unique and differentgeographical, climatic and soil conditions and further selections arethen made during and at the end of the growing season. The varietiesthat are developed are unpredictable because the breeder's selectionoccurs in unique environments with no control at the DNA level, and withmillions of different possible genetic combinations being generated. Abreeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict the final resultinglines he develops, except possibly in a very gross and general fashion.The same breeder cannot produce the same variety twice by using the sameoriginal parents and the same selection techniques. Thisunpredictability results in the expenditure of large amounts of researchmonies to develop superior new lupine varieties.

Breeding programs combine desirable traits from two or more varieties orvarious broad-based sources into breeding pools from which varieties aredeveloped by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes. Pedigreebreeding is used commonly for the improvement of self-pollinatingplants. Two parents that possess favorable, complementary traits arecrossed to produce an F₁. An F₂ population is produced by selfing one orseveral F₁s. Selection of the best individuals may begin in the F₂population; then, beginning in the F₃, the best individuals in the bestfamilies are selected. Replicated testing of families can begin in theF₄ generation to improve the effectiveness of selection for traits withlow heritability. At an advanced stage of inbreeding (i.e., F₆ and F₇),the best lines or mixtures of phenotypically similar lines are testedfor potential release as new varieties.

Using Year Round Flowering Lupine to Develop Other Lupine Plants

Lupine, such as the year round flowering lupine are developed for salesin the ornamental and cut flower market. However, said lupine plants canalso provide a source of breeding material that may be used to developnew lupine plants and varieties. Plant breeding techniques known in theart and used in a lupine plant breeding program include, but are notlimited to, recurrent selection, mass selection, bulk selection,hybridization, mass selection, backcrossing, pedigree breeding,open-pollination breeding, restriction fragment length polymorphismenhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection, making doublehaploids, mutagenesis and transformation. Often combinations of thesetechniques are used. The development of lupine varieties in a plantbreeding program requires, in general, the development and evaluation ofhomozygous varieties. There are many analytical methods available toevaluate a new variety. The oldest and most traditional method ofanalysis is the observation of phenotypic traits, but genotypic analysismay also be used.

Additional Breeding Methods

Any plants produced using the lupine plants disclosed in the presentapplication as at least one parent are also an embodiment. These methodsare well-known in the art and some of the more commonly used breedingmethods are described herein. Descriptions of breeding methods can befound in one of several reference books (e.g., Allard, “Principles ofPlant Breeding” (1999); Vainstein, “Breeding for Ornamentals: Classicaland Molecular Approaches,” Kluwer Academic Publishers (2002); Callaway,“Breeding Ornamental Plants,” Timber Press (2000); and Bragdo, Marie,“Inter-specific Crosses in Lupinus: Cytology and Inheritance of FlowerColor,” Institute of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Agricultural Collegeof Norway, Vollebekk, Norway (Sep. 28, 1956).

Breeding steps that may be used in the lupine plant breeding program caninclude for example, pedigree breeding, backcrossing, mutation breeding,and recurrent selection. In conjunction with these steps, techniquessuch as RFLP-enhanced selection, genetic marker enhanced selection (forexample, SSR markers), and the making of double haploids may beutilized.

As used herein, the term “plant” includes plant cells, plantprotoplasts, plant cell tissue cultures from which lupine plants can beregenerated, plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intactin plants or parts of plants, such as pollen, ovules, embryos,protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, pollen, leaves, ovules,anthers, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pistils, roots, root tips, seeds,flowers, petiole, pods, shoot, or stems and the like.

Pedigree Breeding

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, such asyear round flowering lupine and another different lupine having one ormore desirable characteristics that is lacking or which complements theyear round flowering lupine phenotype. If the two original parents donot provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can beincluded in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superiorplants are selfed and selected in successive filial generations. In thesucceeding filial generations, the heterozygous condition gives way tohomogeneous varieties as a result of self-pollination and selection.Typically in the pedigree method of breeding, five or more successivefilial generations of selfing and selection is practiced: F₁ to F₂; F₂to F₃; F₃ to F₄; F₄ to F₅; etc. After a sufficient amount of inbreeding,successive filial generations will serve to increase seed of thedeveloped variety. Preferably, the developed variety compriseshomozygous alleles at about 95% or more of its loci.

Backcross Breeding

Backcross breeding has been used to transfer genes for a simplyinherited, highly heritable trait into a desirable homozygous variety orinbred line which is the recurrent parent. The source of the trait to betransferred is called the donor parent. After the initial cross,individuals possessing the phenotype of the donor parent are selectedand repeatedly crossed (backcrossed) to the recurrent parent. Theresulting plant is expected to have the attributes of the recurrentparent and the desirable trait transferred from the donor parent.

In addition to being used to create a backcross conversion, backcrossingcan also be used in combination with pedigree breeding. As discussedpreviously, backcrossing can be used to transfer one or morespecifically desirable traits from one variety, the donor parent, to adeveloped variety called the recurrent parent, which has overall goodcommercial characteristics yet lacks that desirable trait or traits.However, the same procedure can be used to move the progeny toward thegenotype of the recurrent parent, but at the same time retain manycomponents of the nonrecurrent parent by stopping the backcrossing at anearly stage and proceeding with selfing and selection. For example, alupine plant may be crossed with another variety to produce a firstgeneration progeny plant. The first generation progeny plant may then bebackcrossed to one of its parent varieties to create a BC₁ or BC₂.Progeny are selfed and selected so that the newly developed variety hasmany of the attributes of the recurrent parent and yet several of thedesired attributes of the nonrecurrent parent. This approach leveragesthe value and strengths of the recurrent parent for use in new lupinevarieties.

Therefore, another embodiment is a method of making a backcrossconversion of year round flowering lupine, comprising the steps ofcrossing a plant of year round flowering lupine with a donor plantcomprising a desired trait, selecting an F₁ progeny plant comprising thedesired trait, and backcrossing the selected F₁ progeny plant to a plantof year round flowering lupine. This method may further comprise thestep of obtaining a molecular marker profile of year round floweringlupine and using the molecular marker profile to select for a progenyplant with the desired trait and the molecular marker profile of yearround flowering lupine.

Recurrent Selection and Mass Selection

Recurrent selection is a method used in a plant breeding program toimprove a population of plants. Year round flowering lupine are suitablefor use in a recurrent selection program. The method entails individualplants cross-pollinating with each other to form progeny. The progenyare grown and the superior progeny selected by any number of selectionmethods, which include individual plant, half-sib progeny, full-sibprogeny, and selfed progeny. The selected progeny are cross-pollinatedwith each other to form progeny for another population. This populationis planted and again superior plants are selected to cross-pollinatewith each other. Recurrent selection is a cyclical process and thereforecan be repeated as many times as desired. The objective of recurrentselection is to improve the traits of a population. The improvedpopulation can then be used as a source of breeding material to obtainnew varieties for commercial or breeding use, including the productionof a synthetic variety. A synthetic variety is the resultant progenyformed by the intercrossing of several selected varieties.

Mass selection is a useful technique when used in conjunction withmolecular marker enhanced selection. In mass selection, seeds fromindividuals are selected based on phenotype or genotype. These selectedseeds are then bulked and used to grow the next generation. Bulkselection requires growing a population of plants in a bulk plot,allowing the plants to self-pollinate, harvesting the seed in bulk, andthen using a sample of the seed harvested in bulk to plant the nextgeneration. Also, instead of self-pollination, directed pollinationcould be used as part of the breeding program.

Mass and recurrent selections can be used to improve populations ofeither self- or cross-pollinating plants. A genetically variablepopulation of heterozygous individuals is either identified, or created,by intercrossing several different parents. The best plants are selectedbased on individual superiority, outstanding progeny, or excellentcombining ability. The selected plants are intercrossed to produce a newpopulation in which further cycles of selection are continued.

Mutation Breeding

Mutation breeding is another method of introducing new traits intolupine lines exhibiting the year round flowering trait. Mutations thatoccur spontaneously or are artificially induced can be useful sources ofvariability for a plant breeder. The goal of artificial mutagenesis isto increase the rate of mutation for a desired characteristic. Mutationrates can be increased by many different means including temperature,long-term seed storage, tissue culture conditions, ionizing radiation,such as X-rays, Gamma rays (e.g., cobalt 60 or cesium 137), neutrons,(product of nuclear fission by uranium 235 in an atomic reactor), Betaradiation (emitted from radioisotopes such as phosphorus 32 or carbon14), or ultraviolet radiation (preferably from 2500 to 2900 nm);chemical mutagens (such as base analogues (5-bromo-uracil)), relatedcompounds (8-ethoxy caffeine), antibiotics (streptonigrin), alkylatingagents (sulfur mustards, nitrogen mustards, epoxides, ethylenamines,sulfates, sulfonates such as ethyl methanesulfonate, sulfones,lactones), sodium azide, hydroxylamine, nitrous acid,methylnitrilsourea, or acridines; TILLING (targeting induced locallesions in genomes), where mutation is induced by chemical mutagens andmutagenesis is accompanies by the isolation of chromosomal DNA fromevery mutated plant line or seed and screening of the population of theseed or plants is performed at the DNA level using advanced moleculartechniques. Once a desired trait is observed through mutagenesis thetrait may then be incorporated into existing germplasm by traditionalbreeding techniques. Details of mutation breeding can be found inVainstein, “Breeding for Ornamentals: Classical and MolecularApproaches,” Kluwer Academic Publishers (2002); Sikora, Per, et al.,“Mutagenesis as a Tool in Plant Genetics, Functional Genomics, andBreeding” International Journal of Plant Genomics. 2011 (2011); 13pages. In addition, mutations created in other lupine plants may be usedto produce a backcross conversion of lupine plants that comprises suchmutation.

Gene Editing Using CRISPR

Targeted gene editing can be done using CRISPR/Cas9 technology (Saunders& Joung, Nature Biotechnology, 32, 347-355, 2014). CRISPR is a type ofgenome editing system that stands for Clustered Regularly InterspacedShort Palindromic Repeats. This system and CRISPR-associated (Cas) genesenable organisms, such as select bacteria and archaea, to respond to andeliminate invading genetic material. Ishino, Y., et al. J. Bacteriol.169, 5429-5433 (1987). These repeats were known as early as the 1980s inE. coli, but Barrangou and colleagues demonstrated that S. thermophiluscan acquire resistance against a bacteriophage by integrating a fragmentof a genome of an infectious virus into its CRISPR locus. Barrangou, R.,et al. Science 315, 1709-1712 (2007). Many plants have already beenmodified using the CRISPR system. See for example, U.S. ApplicationPublication No. WO2014068346 (György et al., Identification of aXanthomonas euvesicatoria resistance gene from pepper (Capsicum annuum)and method for generating plants with resistance); Martinelli, F. etal., “Proposal of a Genome Editing System for Genetic Resistance toTomato Spotted Wilt Virus” American Journal of Applied Sciences 2014;Noman, A. et al., “CRISPR-Cas9: Tool for Qualitative and QuantitativePlant Genome Editing” Frontiers in Plant Science Vol. 7 Nov. 2016; and“Exploiting the CRISPR/Cas9 System for Targeted Genome Mutagenesis inPetunia” Science Reports Volume 6: February 2016.

Gene editing can also be done using crRNA-guided surveillance systemsfor gene editing. Additional information about crRNA-guided surveillancecomplex systems for gene editing can be found in the followingdocuments, which are incorporated by reference in their entirety: U.S.Application Publication No. 2010/0076057 (Sontheimer et al., Target DNAInterference with crRNA); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0179006(Feng, CRISPR-CAS Component Systems, Methods, and Compositions forSequence Manipulation); U.S. Application Publication No. 2014/0294773(Brouns et al., Modified Cascade Ribonucleoproteins and Uses Thereof);Sorek et al., Annu. Rev. Biochem. 82:273-266, 2013; and Wang, S. et al.,Plant Cell Rep (2015) 34: 1473-1476. Therefore, it is another embodimentto use the CRISPR system on lupine plants to modify traits andresistances or tolerances to pests, herbicides, diseases, and viruses.

Gene Editing Using TALENs

Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) have beensuccessfully used to introduce targeted mutations via repair of doublestranded breaks (DSBs) either through non-homologous end joining (NHEJ),or by homology-directed repair (HDR) and homology-independent repair inthe presence of a donor template. Thus, TALENs are another mechanism fortargeted genome editing using lupine plants comprising the year roundflowering trait. The technique is well known in the art; see for exampleMalzahn, Aimee et al. “Plant genome editing with TALEN and CRISPR” Cell& bioscience vol. 7 21. 24 Apr. 2017.

Therefore, it is another embodiment to use the TALENs system on lupineplants to modify traits and resistances or tolerances to pests,herbicides, and viruses.

Other Methods of Genome Editing

In addition to CRISPR and TALENs, two other types of engineerednucleases can be used for genome editing: engineered homingendonucleases/meganucleases (EMNs), and zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs).These methods are well known in the art. See for example, Petilino,Joseph F. “Genome editing in plants via designed zinc finger nucleases”In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Plant. 51(1): pp. 1-8 (2015); and Daboussi,Fayza, et al. “Engineering Meganuclease for Precise Plant GenomeModification” in Advances in New Technology for Targeted Modification ofPlant Genomes. Springer Science+Business. pp 21-38 (2015).

Therefore, it is another embodiment to use engineered nucleases onlupine plants to modify traits and resistances or tolerances to pests,herbicides, and viruses.

Single-Gene Conversions

When the term lupine plant is used in the context of an embodiment ofthe present application, this also includes any single gene conversionsof year round flowering lupine. The term single gene converted plant asused herein refers to those lupine plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing wherein essentially all of thedesired morphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single gene transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. Backcrossing methods can be used withone embodiment of the present application to improve or introduce acharacteristic into the plant. The term “backcrossing” as used hereinrefers to the repeated crossing of a hybrid progeny back to therecurrent parent, i.e., backcrossing 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or moretimes to the recurrent parent. The parental lupine plant thatcontributes the gene for the desired characteristic is termed thenonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers to the fact thatthe nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcross protocol andtherefore does not recur. The parental lupine plant to which the gene orgenes from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred is known as therecurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in the backcrossingprotocol (Poehlman & Sleper (1994). In a typical backcross protocol, theoriginal variety of interest (recurrent parent) is crossed to a secondvariety (nonrecurrent parent) that carries the single gene of interestto be transferred. The resulting progeny from this cross are thencrossed again to the recurrent parent and the process is repeated untila lupine plant is obtained wherein essentially all of the desiredmorphological and physiological characteristics of the recurrent parentare recovered in the converted plant, in addition to the singletransferred gene from the nonrecurrent parent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single gene of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired gene from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially important trait or traitsto the plant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on thecharacteristic or trait being altered to determine an appropriatetesting protocol. Although backcrossing methods are simplified when thecharacteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, a recessiveallele may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessary tointroduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

Many single gene traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new variety but that can beimproved by backcrossing techniques. These traits are well-known in theart.

Introduction of a New Trait or Locus into Year Round Flowering Lupine

Year round flowering lupine represents a new base of genetics into whicha new locus or trait may be introgressed. Direct transformation andbackcrossing represent two important methods that can be used toaccomplish such an introgression. The term backcross conversion andsingle locus conversion are used interchangeably to designate theproduct of a backcrossing program.

Backcross Conversions of Year Round Flowering Lupine

A backcross conversion of year round flowering lupine occurs when DNAsequences are introduced through backcrossing (Allard, “Principles ofPlant Breeding” (1999) with year round flowering lupine utilized as therecurrent parent. Both naturally occurring and transgenic DNA sequencesmay be introduced through backcrossing techniques. A backcrossconversion may produce a plant with a trait or locus conversion in atleast two or more backcrosses, including at least 2 crosses, at least 3crosses, at least 4 crosses, at least 5 crosses, and the like. Molecularmarker assisted breeding or selection may be utilized to reduce thenumber of backcrosses necessary to achieve the backcross conversion. Forexample, see, Openshaw, S. J., et al., Marker-assisted Selection inBackcross Breeding, Proceedings Symposium of the Analysis of MolecularData, Crop Science Society of America, Corvallis, Oreg. (August 1994),where it is demonstrated that a backcross conversion can be made in asfew as two backcrosses.

The complexity of the backcross conversion method depends on the type oftrait being transferred (single genes or closely linked genes ascompared to unlinked genes), the level of expression of the trait, thetype of inheritance (cytoplasmic or nuclear), and the types of parentsincluded in the cross. It is understood by those of ordinary skill inthe art that for single gene traits that are relatively easy toclassify, the backcross method is effective and relatively easy tomanage. See, Allard, “Principles of Plant Breeding” (1999). Desiredtraits that may be transferred through backcross conversion include, butare not limited to, sterility (nuclear and cytoplasmic), fertilityrestoration, drought tolerance, nitrogen utilization, ornamentalfeatures, disease resistance (bacterial, fungal, or viral), insectresistance, and herbicide resistance. In addition, an introgression siteitself, such as an FRT site, Lox site, or other site specificintegration site, may be inserted by backcrossing and utilized fordirect insertion of one or more genes of interest into a specific plantvariety. In some embodiments, the number of loci that may be backcrossedinto year round flowering lupine is at least 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, and/or nomore than 6, 5, 4, 3, or 2. A single locus may contain severaltransgenes, such as a transgene for disease resistance that, in the sameexpression vector, also contains a transgene for herbicide resistance.The gene for herbicide resistance may be used as a selectable markerand/or as a phenotypic trait. A single locus conversion of site specificintegration system allows for the integration of multiple genes at theconverted loci.

The backcross conversion may result from either the transfer of adominant allele or a recessive allele. Selection of progeny containingthe trait of interest is accomplished by direct selection for a traitassociated with a dominant allele. Transgenes or genes transferred viabackcrossing typically function as a dominant single gene trait and arerelatively easy to classify. Selection of progeny for a trait that istransferred via a recessive allele requires growing and selfing thefirst backcross generation to determine which plants carry the recessivealleles. Recessive traits may require additional progeny testing insuccessive backcross generations to determine the presence of the locusof interest. The last backcross generation is usually selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred, although abackcross conversion with a stably introgressed trait may also bemaintained by further backcrossing to the recurrent parent withselection for the converted trait.

In addition, the above process and other similar processes describedherein may be used to produce first generation progeny lupine seed byadding a step at the end of the process that comprises crossing yearround flowering lupine with the introgressed trait or locus with adifferent lupine plant and harvesting the resultant first generationprogeny lupine seed.

Molecular Techniques Using Year Round Flowering Lupine

The advent of new molecular biological techniques has allowed theisolation and characterization of genetic elements with specificfunctions. Traditional plant breeding has principally been the source ofnew germplasm, however, advances in molecular technologies have allowedbreeders to provide varieties with novel and much wanted commercialattributes. Molecular techniques such as transformation are popular inbreeding ornamental plants and well-known in the art. See Vainstein,“Breeding for Ornamentals: Classical and Molecular Approaches,” KluwerAcademic Publishers (2002).

Breeding with Molecular Markers

Molecular markers can also be used during the breeding process for theselection of qualitative traits. For example, markers closely linked toalleles or markers containing sequences within the actual alleles ofinterest can be used to select plants that contain the alleles ofinterest during a backcrossing breeding program. The markers can also beused to select for the genome of the recurrent parent and against thegenome of the donor parent. Using this procedure can minimize the amountof genome from the donor parent that remains in the selected plants. Itcan also be used to reduce the number of crosses back to the recurrentparent needed in a backcrossing program. The use of molecular markers inthe selection process is often called genetic marker enhanced selection.Molecular markers may also be used to identify and exclude certainsources of germplasm as parental varieties or ancestors of a plant byproviding a means of tracking genetic profiles through crosses.Molecular markers, which includes markers identified through the use oftechniques such as Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats(SSRs), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), may be used in plantbreeding methods utilizing year round flowering lupine. See Vainstein,“Breeding for Ornamentals: Classical and Molecular Approaches,” KluwerAcademic Publishers (2002).

Genetic Marker Profile Through SSR and First Generation Progeny

In addition to phenotypic observations, a plant can also be identifiedby its genotype. The genotype of a plant can be characterized through agenetic marker profile which can identify plants of the same variety, ora related variety, or be used to determine or validate a pedigree.Genetic marker profiles can be obtained by techniques such asRestriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly AmplifiedPolymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction(AP-PCR), DNA Amplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence CharacterizedAmplified Regions (SCARs), Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms(AFLPs), Simple Sequence Repeats (SSRs) (which are also referred to asMicrosatellites), and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), all ofwhich are well-known in the art.

Tissue Culture

Further reproduction of the variety can occur by tissue culture andregeneration. Tissue culture of various tissues of ornamental plants andlupine and regeneration of plants therefrom is well-known and widelypublished. For example, reference may be had to do Valla Rego, Lucianaet al., Crop Breeding and Applied Technology. 1(3): 283-300 (2001);Komatsuda, T., et al., Crop Sci., 31:333-337 (1991); Stephens, P. A., etal., Theor. Appl. Genet., 82:633-635 (1991); Komatsuda, T., et al.,Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture, 28:103-113 (1992); Dhir, S., etal., Plant Cell Reports, 11:285-289 (1992); Pandey, P., et al., Japan J.Breed., 42:1-5 (1992); and Shetty, K., et al., Plant Science, 81:245-251(1992). Thus, another embodiment is to provide cells which upon growthand differentiation produce lupine plants having the physiological andmorphological characteristics of year round flowering lupine describedin the present application.

Regeneration refers to the development of a plant from tissue culture.The term “tissue culture” indicates a composition comprising isolatedcells of the same or a different type or a collection of such cellsorganized into parts of a plant. Exemplary types of tissue cultures areprotoplasts, calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that can generatetissue culture that are intact in plants or parts of plants, such aspollen, ovules, embryos, protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus,pollen, leaves, ovules, anthers, cotyledons, hypocotyl, pistils, roots,root tips, flowers, seeds, petiole, pods, shoot, or stems, and the like.Means for preparing and maintaining plant tissue culture are well-knownin the art.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications,permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is thereforeintended that the following appended claims and claims hereafterintroduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions, and sub-combinations as are within their truespirit and scope.

One or more aspects may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the embodiments is, therefore,indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription. All changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

The foregoing discussion of the embodiments has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the embodiments to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of theembodiments are grouped together in one or more embodiments for thepurpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is notto be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimedembodiments require more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie inless than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus,the following claims are hereby incorporated into this DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferredembodiment.

Moreover, though the description of the embodiments has includeddescription of one or more embodiments and certain variations andmodifications, other variations and modifications are within the scopeof the embodiments (e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge ofthose in the art, after understanding the present disclosure). It isintended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges or acts to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges or acts are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. Forexample, if the range 10-15 is disclosed, then 11, 12, 13, and 14 arealso disclosed. All methods described herein can be performed in anysuitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to betterilluminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scopeof the embodiments unless otherwise claimed. No language in thespecification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed elementas essential to the practice one or more embodiments.

Deposit Information

A representative sample of proprietary Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid seedcomprising the lines shown in Table 7 of Green Fuse Botanicals, Inc.,wherein said seed comprises a homozygous recessive allele that producesa year round flowering characteristic, wherein said deposit isdesignated Lupinus sp. year round flowering and wherein said year roundflowering lupine plants grown from said seed exhibit a year roundflowering characteristic have been made with the National Collections ofIndustrial, Food and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB), Ferguson Building,Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB21 9YA, UnitedKingdom. The date of deposit of 1,491 was Mar. 28, 2017 and the NCIMBNo. is 42735. On Apr. 4, 2017, an additional supplemental deposit of1,770 seeds was made with NCIMB. The deposit of at least 2,500 seeds wastaken from the same deposit maintained by Green Fuse Botanicals, Inc.since prior to the filing date of this application. Upon issuance of apatent, all restrictions on the availability to the public of thedeposit will be irrevocably removed consistent with all of therequirements of 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.801-1.809. The deposit will be maintainedin the depository for a period of thirty years, or five years after thelast request, or for the enforceable life of the patent, whichever islonger, and will be replaced as necessary during the period.

A representative sample of proprietary Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid seedcomprising the lines shown in Table 7 of Green Fuse Botanicals, Inc.,wherein said seed comprises a homozygous recessive allele that producesa year round flowering characteristic, wherein said deposit isdesignated Lupinus sp. year round flowering and wherein said year roundflowering lupine plants grown from said seed exhibit a year roundflowering characteristic have been made with the National Collections ofIndustrial, Food and Marine Bacteria (NCIMB), Ferguson Building,Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, Scotland, AB21 9YA, UnitedKingdom. The date of deposit of 2,500 seeds was Jul. 26, 2019 and theNCIMB No. is 43446. The deposit of at least 2,500 seeds was taken fromthe same deposit maintained by Green Fuse Botanicals, Inc. since priorto the filing date of this application. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions on the availability to the public of the deposit will beirrevocably removed consistent with all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R.§§ 1.801-1.809. The deposit will be maintained in the depository for aperiod of thirty years, or five years after the last request, or for theenforceable life of the patent, whichever is longer, and will bereplaced as necessary during the period.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lupine seed whose genome contains at least onecopy of a recessive allele for year round flowering, wherein saidrecessive allele is identified by the genetic marker sequence as shownin SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequence contains a two base pairinsertion at position number 93 to 94 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, a singlenucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an A to G nucleotidesubstitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, and a SNPcomprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at position number 115 asshown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 2. A lupine plant, or a part thereof, whose genomecontains at least one copy of a recessive allele for year roundflowering, wherein said recessive allele is identified by the geneticmarker sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequencecontains a two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shownin SEQ ID NO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an Ato G nucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, and a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at positionnumber 115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. A method of producing a lupineplant having a year round flowering characteristic, wherein said methodcomprises crossing the plant of claim 2 with itself or another lupineplant to produce F₁ progeny, screening said F₁ progeny for said geneticmarker and selecting for plants having the two base pair insertion atposition number 93 to 94 as shown in SEQ ID NO:
 1. 4. A lupine plantproduced from the method of claim 3, wherein said plant is homozygousrecessive for said genetic marker and exhibits the year round floweringtrait.
 5. The lupine plant of claim 4, wherein said lupine plant is atetraploid or diploid.
 6. A lupine seed produced by growing the plant ofclaim
 5. 7. A lupine plant, or a plant part thereof, produced by growingthe seed of claim 6, wherein said plant comprises the year roundflowering characteristic.
 8. The plant part of claim 7, wherein theplant part is selected from the group consisting of pollen, ovules,embryos, protoplasts, meristematic cells, callus, leaves, anthers,cotyledons, hypocotyl, pistils, roots, root tips, flowers, seeds,petiole, pods, and stems, wherein said plant part contains in its genomeat least one copy of a recessive allele for year round flowering,wherein said recessive allele is identified by the genetic markersequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequence containsa two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an A to Gnucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1,and a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at position number115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 9. A tissue culture produced fromprotoplasts or cells from the plant part of claim
 8. 10. A lupine plantregenerated from the tissue culture of claim 8, wherein said plantcomprises the year round flowering characteristic.
 11. The lupine plantof claim 2, wherein said lupine plant is a dwarf variety.
 12. The lupineplant of claim 11, wherein the inflorescence of said lupine is blue,purple, white, red, pink, yellow, orange, or combinations and shadesthereof.
 13. The lupine plant of claim 2, wherein said lupine plant is atall variety.
 14. The lupine plant of claim 13, wherein theinflorescence of said lupine is blue, purple, white, red, pink, yellow,orange, or combinations and shades thereof.
 15. A method forintrogressing the year round flowering trait into a lupine plantcomprising crossing two lupine parent plants and harvesting theresultant lupine seed, wherein at least one lupine parent plantcomprises at least one recessive allele for year round flowering,wherein said recessive allele is identified by the genetic markersequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequence containsa two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an A to Gnucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1,and a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at position number115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein saidmethod comprises backcrossing to one of said parent plants for two ormore generations.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein said methodcomprises selecting a plant having at least one copy of the recessiveallele for the year round flowering trait in each generation.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the selection comprises molecular markerassisted selection, where the marker assisted selection comprisesidentifying the genetic marker as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 19. A lupineplant produced from the method of claim 16, wherein said lupine plant ishomozygous recessive for the genetic marker sequence as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, and wherein said plant exhibits the year round flowering trait.20. The lupine plant of claim 19, wherein said lupine plant is a Russelllupine, a Lupinus polyphyllus, a Lupinus arboreus, a Lupinus sulphureus,or a Lupinus nootkatensis.
 21. A method for developing a lupine plant ina plant breeding program, comprising applying plant breeding techniquescomprising crossing, recurrent selection, mutation breeding, whereinsaid mutation breeding selects for a mutation that is spontaneously ornaturally induced or artificially induced, backcrossing, pedigreebreeding, marker enhanced selection, haploid/double haploid production,or transformation to the lupine plant of claim 2, or its parts, whereinapplication of said techniques results in development of a lupine plant.22. A method of introducing a mutation into the genome of the lupineplant of claim 2, said method comprising mutagenesis of the plant, orplant part thereof, wherein said mutagenesis is selected from the groupconsisting of temperature, long-term seed storage, tissue cultureconditions, ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, or targeting inducedlocal lesions in genomes, and wherein the resulting plant comprises atleast one genome mutation.
 23. A method of editing the genome of lupineplant of claim 2, wherein said method is selected from the groupcomprising zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effectornucleases (TALENs), engineered homing endonucleases/meganucleases, andthe clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat(CRISPR)-associated protein9 (Cas9) system.
 24. A lupine plant producedby the method of claim 23, and wherein said lupine plant's genomecontains at least one copy of a recessive allele for year roundflowering, wherein said recessive allele is identified by the geneticmarker sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequencecontains a two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shownin SEQ ID NO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an Ato G nucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, and a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at positionnumber 115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 25. A lupine seed produced bygrowing the plant of claim 24, and wherein said lupine seed's genomecontains at least one copy of a recessive allele for year roundflowering, wherein said recessive allele is identified by the geneticmarker sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequencecontains a two base pair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shownin SEQ ID NO:1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an Ato G nucleotide substitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ IDNO:1, and a SNP comprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at positionnumber 115 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 26. A method of producing a lupineplant, or part thereof, produced by growing the seed of claim 25, andwherein the genome of the lupine plant, or a part thereof, contains atleast one copy of a recessive allele for year round flowering, whereinsaid recessive allele is identified by the genetic marker sequence asshown in SEQ ID NO:1, wherein said marker sequence contains a two basepair insertion at position number 93 to 94 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, asingle nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) comprising an A to G nucleotidesubstitution at position number 98 as shown in SEQ ID NO:1, and a SNPcomprising a T to A nucleotide substitution at position number 115 asshown in SEQ ID NO:1.
 27. A Lupinus polyphyllus hybrid lupine plantcomprising a year round flowering characteristic, wherein said yearround flowering characteristic comprises a lupine plant which willinitiate flowering without vernalization and in days of shortphotoperiods, and wherein said lupine plant is produced from arepresentative sample of seed, wherein seed from said representativesample has been deposited with the National Collections of Industrial,Food and Marine Bacteria under NCIMB Accession number 43446.